[WARNING. THIS ENTIRE STORY CONTAINS: SELF HARM, MENTIONS OF CHILD ABUSE, MENTION OF DEATH, DYSPOHRIA, SLURS, SCARS, BlOOD AND SLIGHT RAPE MENTIONS. IK THAT DOGMAN IS CHILDRENS BOOK, BUT HONEY, PLEASE. PLEASE PROCEED WITH CAUTION]

Dogman. The hero of Ohkay city. Dogman was known throughout the city as the towns best cop dog and the father of lil' Petey

But tomorrow was a day Dogman dreaded. knights birthday.

It's been two years since the bomb incident. Throughout Gregs time with his formers owners body, whenever he's  alone he always beats himself up over the fact that Knight should've lived. Not him.

Lil' Petey was over for the weekend, having fun with Dogman and playing with him in the backyard, but he didn't know about his dog dads dilemma.

"Good night Dogman. Sweet dreams!" Lil Petey said as he turned of the lamp on his dresser, wishing Dogman a good night.

Sarah had taught Dogman ASL (American Sign Language), so he wished him a goodnight with his hand gestures.

"Good night lil Petey. I love you."

Lil Petey smiled and, almost immediately, fell asleep.

Dogman shut his sons door, but instead of going to his bedroom, he went to the kitchen.

As his slippers hit the kitchen floor, he started to sob. Through his tears he grabbed a pencil and paper and wrote down a note. 

A suicide note.

He hated his body. He hated the stiches on his neck. He hated his hands he hated his feet. He hated everything.

A this was it.

The final straw.

With shakey hands he grabbed a shinny and sharp kitchen knife, holding it to his stitched neck.

"I'll miss my son, but Petey's a better father..." He thought as he was about to cut.

It was going to be better this way.

"G-GREG WHAT THE FUCK?!" A voice boomed behind him and grabbed the knife from him.

Petey.

He had come to stay over due to an explosion in his lab, but as he opened the door, he saw the blade threatening to slit Dogmans throat open.

Petey threw the knife on the floor, and in rage and concern he kicked it across the cold kitchen floor.

"GREG, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?! WHAT'S GOTTEN INTO YOU?!" Petey howled in concern and upmost fury as he checked Dogmans face for any injuries or scars.

As he checked, he felt bite mark scars all over his arms like constellations. Each one telling a story of pain and agony.

"...G-Greg...What's this...?" Peteys eyes were filled with worry, dread, and fear of what Dogman would say. But Dogman only wimpered. 

"Greg. What. Is. This?!" He held his arm and pointed to the scars.His voice holding tones of fury and concern. 

Dogman slowly got up and gestured Petey to follow him. Petey was still concerned about what happened to Greg that made him hurt himself like that. His co-workers? The citizens? Heck, even his good-for-nothing father? 

He didn't know. He just wanted Greg to be safe! 

Dogman and Petey entered Dogmans bedroom. It was a mess with dog bones and papers of Lil Peteys drawings. Dogman opened his nightstand drawer and pulled out a calender. He pointed to tomorrow, and Dogman signed: "Tomorrow is Knights birthday...And it's all my fault that he's dead..."

"No it's not! It's ...It's my fault! I was the one who set the bomb!" Petey shot back at him. Taking the blame. "And why would you even hurt yourself because of-...Oh...Oh...OH HELL NO!" Petey came to a sudden realization that Dogman had believed that Knight had deserved to live. So much that he tried to kill himself. No...He couldn't...

 Petey was INFURIATED. 

"GREG, WHY WOULD YOU EVER TRY THAT?! HOW COULD YOU EVEN THINK OF LEAVING OUR SON BEHIND?! ALL HE DOES THROUGHOUT THE WEEK IS TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH HE ADORES YOU. YOU HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO LOVE YOU! AND......" Peteys voice softened with sincerity and saddness. "...At least you had a dad...My dad fucking beat me and my mom...Then my mom got sick...A-and..." Peteys voice cracked with vulnerability. The walls he'd built over his heart were finally breaking. Like a dam about to burst open.

"...T-then my dad left...Then I hurt my tail...Then...My mom..."

Petey suddenly gave Dogman a crushing hug as he sobbed into his shoulder. Dogman was shocked. He had never seen Petey cry before. Even after all they'd been through.

Dogman wrapped his arms around him. Giving him the magical comfort dogs are able to provide with their presence.

"Please ...Don't leave...You're all I have left..." Petey croaked out during sobs. This shattered Dogmans heart. He was about to kill himself. And now th last person he expected cryingand hugging him...

Was Petey...

Dogman understood in this moment. He might not have Knight in his life anymore. But he has his family. And that's all he needed.

He unwrapped his arms around him and signed: "I understand. Thank you so much, Petey."

Petey wipped his tears. Embarrassed for how he acted. Even though he ment every word "For what...D-dumbass...?"

"For being apart of my family. Our family."

"...That was corny as fuck...But...Thank you Greg."

Dogman licked his face, making Petey push him away and wipe it off immediately.

"Bad dog! No! That's disgusting! Ugh!" He spat out. Spitting the dog slobber that got into his mouth.

"Why are you here anyway? It's Saturday, not Monday." Dogman signed. His eye brow raised in confusion. 

Petey sucked on his teeth, putting his hand on his neck.

"There was a little ...Accident in the lab--"

Dogman sighed.

"Explosion?" Dogman groaned.

"...Yeah--"

"Fine...Get in bed, it's like 3 AM..." Dogman got out his other pillow, that was specifically for Petey. 

It wasn't the first time Peteys lab exploded. It happened so often that Dogmans left side of the bed was for Petey.

"Thanks Greg."

"You're welcome. Good night Petey."

"Wait...Dogman?" 

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry that you're struggling...i really am...I hope you can get better."

Instead of Dogman licking Petey, he gave him a kiss on the cheek. 

"With you here with me, I'm already better."

Peteys face turned red. He wasn't used to comforting words or physical affection. 

"Y-yeah...G-good night...-"

(I bet y'all didn't even know I liked dogman. Which is crazy that I've never talked about it cause I love dogman. 1002 words)