Part 24

At 5 in the morning, Dog Man woke up with a strange feeling. His body felt overheated, and a slight discomfort accompanied him, as if he were beginning to feel feverish. His mind was clouded by interrupted sleep, yet something still urged him to get up. A silent hunger called to him, but what truly bothered him was a feeling of emptiness, as if the last few hours had left him with a knot in his stomach.

Even without fully understanding why, Dog Man walked down the hallway, noticing the stillness of the house. The previous night had been uncomfortable. Petey had had a little emotional breakdown—something Dog Man noticed in his gaze, though he hadn't mentioned it. The tension in the air was palpable, yet neither of them had spoken about it. After a while, they went to sleep, each lost in their own thoughts.

Dog Man arrived in the kitchen, where the soft sounds of something moving and the noise of a utensil against a bowl caught his attention. Petey was crouched by the countertop, his concentration almost excessive as he worked. The sweet aroma of something freshly baked began to fill the room, and Dog Man, still drowsy, followed him to the doorway, watching silently.

Petey didn't realize Dog Man was there until he heard a noise from him shifting his foot. He quickly turned around, and upon seeing Dog Man standing in the doorway, surprise washed over him. He wasn't prepared for this appearance—especially after what had happened the previous night.

—Petey...? —Dog Man's voice came out hoarse, as if he were trying to comprehend what he was seeing.

Petey stopped mixing the dough and looked at Dog Man with an expression that betrayed something like anxiety, though he tried to hide it.

—Oh... —he said, with a slight nervous smile—. I was... cooking. I couldn't sleep. Um... you know... lemon cookies.

Dog Man blinked, processing the scene. It wasn't what he had expected to find—the messy kitchen with all the ingredients scattered on the table, the cookies still unbaked. But there was something else in that scene, something that made him feel uncomfortable. Why was Petey so quiet? Why hadn't he mentioned what happened? Why was he so tense, despite what seemed to be a simple gesture?

—At this hour? —asked Dog Man, trying to sound curious, though his voice betrayed the discomfort he felt. The concern was palpable, even if he couldn't quite understand why.

Petey didn't know what to say. He was nervous. His mind was still trapped in the feeling of yesterday—his little emotional breakdown that he hadn't fully overcome. He had been looking for a way to ease the tension, and cooking was the only thing that gave him some sense of control at that moment. But the discomfort between them made him feel as if he were doing something wrong.

—Yeah... I thought maybe... maybe you'd like them —he said, not knowing how to continue. He knew things weren't right, but he couldn't find a way to bring up the topic—. I just... wanted to do something. So that... you know, things wouldn't be weird between us.

Dog Man looked at Petey, sensing that something had changed, though he couldn't explain it. Something had happened the day before, something neither of them had wanted to address. Petey had had a little breakdown, and Dog Man hadn't known how to deal with it. The silence had enveloped them, and although they hadn't argued, the distance between them now seemed greater than before.

—Petey... —Dog Man finally said, feeling the weight of the situation compelling him to speak—. You don't have to do all this, you know? You don't have to... try to fix it by cooking.

Petey looked up and searched Dog Man's eyes for an answer, but he found none—only a shared discomfort that both tried to avoid.

—I know —Petey replied with a sigh—. I didn't do it for that reason, I just... wanted to do something. But... I don't want you to think that... I don't know, that everything's okay, you know? It wasn't a good day, and... I feel weird.

Dog Man moved a little closer to the table, gazing at the cookies Petey was preparing, as if hoping that gesture might give him an answer. But there was none—only more questions.

—I feel weird too —Dog Man admitted, with a small, sad smile. He realized that words were what they needed now. They had to talk, even if it was uncomfortable—. Yesterday... wasn't a good day. But... I don't want things to stay like this.

Petey slowly nodded, understanding what Dog Man meant, even though he wasn't sure how to continue. The silence between them still lingered, but it wasn't as heavy as before.

—No... I don't want everything to be weird. I just... I don't know how to make it better —mumbled Petey, his tone filled with a sincerity that surprised Dog Man. Although he was still nervous, there was something in his voice that showed he was really trying.

Dog Man looked at him, and in that moment, he felt the distance between them was smaller than before. It was only one step—perhaps the smallest step—but at least it was something.

—Thank you, Petey... —Dog Man finally said in a soft voice. His words weren't perfect, but there was a sincerity in them—. I like the cookies. Thanks for making them.

Petey, though still a bit nervous, smiled with some relief. At least not everything was lost. It wasn't a solution, but it was a small step forward.

They both stayed in the kitchen, sharing the space in silence but with a clearer understanding of what they needed. Although they didn't know how to move forward, at least they knew they could still try.

Dog Man picked up one of the lemon cookies that Petey had placed on the table. It was slightly warm, the aroma still lingering in the air, but his body didn't seem to react as it should. He was beginning to feel worse. The discomfort was increasing, and he wasn't sure if it was the fever or if the tension of the situation was affecting him more than he thought.

He brought the cookie to his mouth, and the sweet, refreshing taste of lime invaded his palate, though he barely enjoyed the texture. His throat felt strange, dry, and a shiver ran down his back despite the warmth of the kitchen. A sigh escaped his lips as he bit into the cookie slowly, his body rejecting the comfort that food usually provided.

Petey watched him out of the corner of his eye, busy with mixing the dough in his hands, trying not to think too much about what had happened. The silence remained heavy between them, though both were taking small steps toward comfort—as if hoping that time would give them the answers they couldn't put into words.

—Are you... okay? —Petey asked in a slightly trembling voice, feeling the discomfort fill the air once again.

Dog Man didn't answer immediately. His gaze drifted over the cookies, then focused on Petey, searching his face for something, though he wasn't quite sure what. He couldn't shake the feeling that everything was out of place, yet at the same time, there was a small comfort in seeing Petey busy, cooking.

—I feel... weird —Dog Man finally admitted in a low voice. The pain in his chest grew stronger, and his body seemed weaker with every bite he took.

Petey stopped mixing for a moment, but he didn't look directly at Dog Man. He was too absorbed in his task to watch Dog Man's face. If he did, he might see worry or sadness reflected there, and he wasn't sure he could handle it. Instead, he simply sighed.

—I don't want... this to keep being awkward —he said, returning his focus to the dough, though his tone was laden with something more, as if hoping Dog Man would understand without too many words. He knew there was more than just simple awkwardness between them—something that had been in the air since the previous night.

Dog Man finished the cookie, and although his stomach grumbled with every bite, he continued eating, trying to let the taste soothe the discomfort he felt. Yet with each bite, the unease intensified. The burning in his throat increased, and he felt the fever starting to rise again. His hands trembled slightly as he picked up the next cookie, but he couldn't stop eating—as if that were the only way to distract himself from his growing discomfort.

—Petey... —he murmured, his voice now even weaker—not because of what he had eaten, but because of what he felt in his chest. The pain, the emptiness, and the increasing discomfort overwhelmed him. Even though the cookies gave him a slight satisfaction, they weren't enough to calm the unease that haunted him—. You don't have to keep cooking. I... I just want us... to be okay.

Petey, though he didn't turn around, felt Dog Man's words like a soft dagger. He didn't know how to respond. If only he could fix things easily, if only he could show him that he was there, that not everything was so bad... but the words got stuck in his throat.

—I know... —he replied quietly as he carefully placed more cookies on the tray—. I just... want things to feel less weird, that's all.

Dog Man couldn't fully understand what was happening. He was confused by the situation, by how words never seemed to be enough. Yet something inside him told him that the cookies—Petey's small gestures—were his way of showing what he couldn't express in words.

The silence fell between them again, though it was less dense than before. Although still awkward, it no longer carried the same tension. Petey continued cooking while Dog Man ate, more and more slowly, the taste of the cookies serving as a small relief against the growing fever he felt.

Dog Man looked at Petey once more, the warmth of his body still lingering, but with a slight sense of comfort from being there in the kitchen with him—even though they didn't have answers to what had happened. They only had this moment, this small truce.

Finally, Dog Man finished the last cookie, feeling that exhaustion was beginning to take control of his body. He couldn't keep ignoring the fever that was consuming him. He had to go lie down. But before getting up, he turned to Petey.

—Thank you... for the cookies —he said in a soft, almost subdued voice as he felt increasingly weak—. They helped.

Petey looked at him at last, his eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. He couldn't smile fully, but Dog Man's small response gave him some relief.

—You're welcome —he replied, unable to hide a small, sad smile.

Dog Man stepped back, staggering slightly as he began to leave the kitchen. The fever, the physical discomfort, and the emotional tension piled up in his chest, creating a weight that made it hard to breathe. His thoughts grew even more clouded as he moved away from Petey, not knowing what to do with everything he felt.

Exhaustion began to overcome him, and as he reached the doorway, something inside him broke. A feeling of emptiness overtook him, and before he could stop himself, tears began to fall. He hadn't planned it, nor had he expected it. He didn't know if it was the physical pain, the discomfort of the situation, or perhaps everything he had been repressing inside.

Petey, still in the kitchen, looked up when he heard the faint sobbing of Dog Man. He felt a knot form in his stomach at the sight of his boyfriend from behind, hunched over, unaware of what was happening. There was something in the way Dog Man had left—as if he were trying to escape—and that made Petey feel even more guilty.

—Greg... —Petey said in a barely audible voice, as if he feared what would come next.

Dog Man stopped abruptly, not realizing he had already begun crying. He slowly turned toward Petey, feeling tears roll down his face as he tried to calm himself, but he couldn't. He didn't know how to handle the situation, how to explain it, but the feeling of being completely lost was overwhelming.

Petey watched him, now clearly worried, and couldn't help but step closer, taking quick steps until he was right in front of him. His heart pounded faster, and his nervousness turned into an urgent need to know what was going on.

—What's wrong, Greg? —he asked, his voice trembling and his hands slightly restless. He was trying to stay calm, but seeing Dog Man crying left him unsure of what to do.

Dog Man lifted his gaze, his eyes filled with tears, but he couldn't properly articulate his words. The physical discomfort was consuming him entirely, but what crushed him the most was the feeling of being unable to do anything to make things better.

—I feel... really bad —he murmured, the words slipping from his lips like a broken whisper, almost imperceptible. His lips trembled slightly as he hugged himself, searching for comfort in something he couldn't find—. I want... I want to help you, Petey, but I don't know what to do anymore... —his voice cracked a little, and the tears kept falling, more out of frustration than physical pain—. And on top of that... I feel really sick... because of everything from last night.

Petey felt a heavy weight of guilt wash over him upon hearing those words. He knew his emotional breakdown the night before had left a mark on Dog Man, though he hadn't thought it would affect him this much. He felt terribly guilty for not handling the situation better, for not knowing how to give Dog Man what he needed at that moment.

—Oh... Greg, I'm so sorry... —Petey said, his concern visible on his face. His voice was low but sincere, as if his words could somehow ease the guilt he felt—. I didn't mean for this to affect you so much. I didn't want you to feel like this.

Dog Man looked at Petey, feeling the support in his words, but still so lost in his physical and emotional distress that he couldn't stop the tears from falling.

Petey, feeling the need to do something, quickly stepped closer to him. With trembling hands, he helped him sit on the couch, carefully guiding him so he could lie down. He knew he had to do something to bring down his fever, but he was also afraid it wouldn't be enough.

—I'll bring you something for the fever, wait here —Petey said before rushing off to the kitchen. He returned with a damp cloth in his hands, and without thinking too much, he gently placed it on Dog Man's forehead, hoping that at least that would make him feel a little better.

Dog Man let him, his eyes closed, his breathing a bit uneven. His body was still trembling from the fever, but Petey's gesture gave him some comfort. Even though words were hard to find, Petey's presence beside him gave him a sense of calm.

Petey sat next to him, feeling a little awkward at first, but then realizing that his boyfriend truly needed to be comforted. Without saying anything, he wrapped an arm around Dog Man, hugging him gently. Despite his own nervousness, the act of simply being there gave him a small sense of relief. Maybe he couldn't fix everything, but at least he could be there for him.

Petey watched Dog Man, feeling a mix of pain and helplessness seeing him like this. The tears kept falling down his face, and even though Petey wasn't good with words or comforting people, his instinct pushed him to act. With a trembling hand, he reached for Dog Man's face and, very carefully, began to wipe away the tears rolling down his cheek.

—I... I don't want to see you like this —Petey murmured, almost to himself, not knowing how to ease Dog Man's pain but feeling that doing something was better than standing still in silence.

Despite the discomfort he felt, Petey couldn't help but want to make Dog Man feel better. He sat closer to him on the couch, trying to calm him somehow, though his own insecurities haunted him. He didn't know how to comfort him, how to make him feel like everything would be okay, but he wanted to try.

—I want to make you feel better, Greg —he said in a soft, almost timid voice—. If... if you want, I can give you some cuddles, is that okay?

Dog Man, though still trembling from the fever, lifted his gaze, his eyes still red from crying but now with a faint trace of relief upon seeing the genuine concern in Petey's eyes. He nodded slowly, grateful for the gesture, even if he couldn't explain why he felt like he needed something like that.

—Okay... —he said, his voice hoarse, as he allowed himself to sink further into the couch, letting Petey hold him.

Silence filled the room for a moment, but then Dog Man, his voice soft, asked a question that had been stuck in his mind since the previous night.

—Petey... what happened last night? —he asked, his eyes fixed on Petey's as he tried to understand what had happened between them.

Petey tensed slightly, noticing the seriousness in Dog Man's voice. He didn't want to talk about it, but he knew he had to clarify it. It had been a misunderstanding, a mistake on his part, and even though he knew that, he still found it hard to accept.

—Last night... —Petey started, his voice trembling a little as he avoided looking directly at Dog Man—. I thought that... maybe you wanted more physical closeness, more than what we already had. You know, something more... intimate. And... I think I messed up, Greg. It wasn't what you wanted, and we didn't talk about it beforehand. I left everything up in the air, and now... I really regret not asking first if that was what you wanted.

Petey swallowed hard, feeling a deep sense of guilt. He couldn't stop thinking about how he had handled everything and how he had left things unresolved. He didn't want to hurt Dog Man; he just wanted to be close, but his impulsiveness had led things down the wrong path.

—I'm so sorry, Greg. I didn't mean to pressure you, I didn't want to make you uncomfortable. If I did, I regret not talking to you before doing something so... stupid —he admitted, feeling like his words weren't enough, but at the very least, he wanted Dog Man to know he was sorry.

Dog Man looked at him, processing what Petey had just said. Though he still felt some discomfort, a part of him relaxed upon hearing that Petey hadn't meant any harm, that he had simply wanted to be closer. There was no malice behind his actions, just an attempt to express his affection.

—Petey... —he said, his voice calmer now—. It wasn't your fault. I... didn't know what I wanted, and that's why I felt weird too. I think we both had things we weren't saying, huh?

Petey nodded, relieved to see that Dog Man didn't blame him, but still feeling like something remained unresolved.

—Yeah... Maybe we should've talked more before doing anything or before things started feeling weird —he admitted, with a small, sad smile, though he felt that at least the conversation had brought them closer.

Dog Man gave a faint smile, looking at Petey with more understanding now. Despite everything, he felt that things, though uncomfortable, were improving. With each word they exchanged, the air felt a little lighter, even if the issue wasn't completely resolved.

—What matters is that we're talking now —Dog Man said in a low, sincere voice. Though he was still feeling unwell, the weight in his chest seemed to have eased a little, thanks to their honesty.

Petey nodded, grateful that at least this part was clearer, and he lay down beside Dog Man, holding him more confidently now, ready to move forward one step at a time.

As the silence wrapped around them, Petey continued gently stroking Dog Man's head, their breathing slowly calming. Though many things remained unresolved, at that moment, just being together was enough.

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HIII, just wanted to let you know that I'll be taking commissions for one-shots!! Here's all the info, and if you have any questions or are interested, feel free to DM me hehe.

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