After Brainy Barker and Ace the Bat-Hound were finally rescued from the deserted planet by the rest of the Dog Star Patrol, things finally seemed to go on a good direction.

Brainy and Ace still avoided each other's gazes as they were cheerfully reunited with Krypto and the crew.

"So how did it go?!", he asked anxiously after saying how glad everyone was that they were fine. "While investigating at the park we got dognapped all of the sudden... even I couldn't see it coming", Bat-Hound spoke calmly, but with an ashamed tone.

If he, the Greatest Detective's partner could get abducted this easily, did he even deserve the title?!

Krypto gave him a symphatetic smile, knowing his friend was tense, "It's not anyone's fault. It must have really been a surprise attack... maybe a trap set by that villain", he reassured the Great Dane, afterwards looking at Brainy, "So did you find Shadog?".

Brainy nodded, "Yes... he found us while we were patrolling, luckily, we were able to fight him".

Kiara, behind them, frowned slightly, "Why do you think he brought you to Dessertia? He could just have attacked back at the park like he did before..." she said in deep thought.

Brainy frowned, glancing away, "That's what we were asking ourselves, Wonder Poodle".

"Because he wanted to fight you two ALONE! Duh!", Tail Terrier exclaimed, finding it obvious. When everyone turned to him with a raised brow, he reconsidered his choice of words, "W-well... what I mean is, this is how we cowboys fight; though Shadog isn't one, it's still familiar to me", he said, "In an empty desert... where only you and your rival are left... I think he just wanted to hit y'alls weak point".

Mammoth Mutt hummed, "Terry's right", she chirped, "It makes sense". Hot Dog, next to her, agreed, patting his pink friend's back.

"Then there's nothing to worry about, I suppose", Brainy allowed herself to smile softly. Ace didn't say anything, but breathed a sigh of relief.

"Good, good, good!", Superdog grinned, wagging his tail as Kiara sat next to him, "Now tell us how you defeated that monster...!".

Ace noticed how Brainy's green eyes suddenly seemed to flutter as Krypto looked at her with excitement in his eyes.

He felt something inside his chest stir, surprising him. "What the...", he muttered to himself as he kept watching Brainy trying to "flirt" with Krypto and pathetically failing as the guy sweatdropped and grinned nervously whenever she "made a move".

What he felt on his non-existent heart was probably second-hand embarrassment.

Yeah, that must be it.

The violet Saluki in front of him chuckled, glancing away with a pretty prominent blush decorating her face. "Well, yeah... so that's what happened...", she said awkwardly, after finishing the story.

"Oh... I see...", Krypto awkwardly scratched the back of his head when he noticed his and Brainy's noses were brushing against each other.

"What an uncomfortable situation...", Ace thought with pity as he walked towards them, trying to get in between.

He smoothly got in and separated their very close snouts to fake a cough and catch their attention, "The way you put it makes it sound underwhelming, Barker", he spoke with a knowing smirk as he gently laid a paw on Brainy's head, surprising her.

"What you did back there was quite heroic, you know? You...", he almost couldn't bring himself to finish the words, "You... have my respects", he said seriously.

Brainy's eyes widened slightly at hearing the kind (and rare) words and she gave him a shy smile (which was also rare of her).

Krypto glanced at the two smiling at each other and his tense shoulders relaxed, "Right. Brains has always been someone to respect, I really admire her", he smiled sincerely.

The violet dog blushed at the action and closed her eyes with bliss as Bat-Hound ruffled her purple hair playfully.
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Ace was the last of the Earth dogs and cat to leave after Kiara the Wonder Poodle was soon gone, Krypto the Superdog after her tail, and Streaky lazily following his dog pal.

But as he put his space helmet on he heard Brainy's voice call him inside the empty room.

Turning around slowly with his usual narrowed eyes he waited patiently for her to reach him.

"Hm... Bat-Hound... I just want to say... hm...", she avoided his eyes at all cost, looking at the floor, which was weird.

"... Thank you. Thank you for everything", she finally said, looking up at him with bright eyes.

He cocked his head to the side in confusion. Whatever was she thanking him for?

"And by everything I mean all the times you've helped the Dog Star Patrol... even when I basically made it impossible for you...".

Oh, he was starting to understand, but he couldn't believe it.

Brainy's lime eyes narrowed with guilt as she said it, "... I also want to apologize, I know I did so before, but... I wasn't exactly being sincere to either you or myself, Bat-Hound...".

Before he realized it, she was deeply bowing her head at him, "I'm sorry. This time I hope we can truly be... friends?", she kept her head down with respect.

"What...", was all Ace could say.

Brainy Barker? The prideful Brainy Barker?! APOLOGISING?!

Friends?! But...!

"...", he stood in silence, staring at her.

For a second, Brainy feared he might reject the offer, or just ignore her and turn around to leave...

"Okay".

"Huh?".

"Fine... we can be 'friends'...".

Her eyes slowly lit up again as she raised her head, "Thank you... Ace".

"Hm", he nodded, not wanting to call her "Brainy" yet.

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