Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Ohkay City. A mostly peaceful city with friendly, albeit not the brightest, people. And today seemed like it would be another sunny, peaceful day. The summer sun covered the land in a warm yellow glow. People went about their daily lives, not afraid to stop and chat with others on the street. They didn’t hide at the slightest noise or movement. Things were calm, full of life, and most importantly, safe.

Loud sirens blared, piercing the silence in the air and ringing through the streets of the city. A cop car sped down an empty street, lights flashing. Inside said car was… Petey? Yes, that’s right; this isn’t Petey, “The World’s Most Evilest Cat.” This is Petey The Cat, Supa Cat Cop!

“Chief, this is Petey! Come in!” Petey spoke into his police radio.

“This is Chief Hatoff! Go ahead, Petey,” Chief Sarah Hatoff responded.

“I’m in pursuit of the suspect. Driving down Maple Street, heading southbound. Over.”

“Copy that! Good luck, Petey!” Sarah said before Petey turned off his radio and punched on the gas pedal, flooring it down the street. Yes indeed, Petey’s the best cop around! He’s the reason the city feels as safe as it does. For a long while before he became a cop, the city was littered with crime. The people feared going outside, feared any sudden movements or noises, and feared any Joe Schmoe who called themselves a “villain.” Even if they barely fit that definition.

But when Petey joined the force, he cleaned the streets up. He made the city safe again. And for going on four years now, has continued to keep the city and its citizens safe. But this came with a consequence; where they used to be afraid of every villain, they were now nonchalant about new villains. They turned a blind eye to the dangers around them because they were so used to Petey always being able to protect them.

And it drove Petey up the fucking wall! How could these people not understand that just because he could and would protect them, doesn’t mean they didn’t also need to be careful? Petey could only do so much, and there may come a time, god forbid, that he is defeated by one of the villains. Especially his arch-nemesis. They couldn’t let themselves fall back into the fear-riddled world they all lived in four years ago. They need to find their own strength.

Petey rounded the corner of Sweet Brew Avenue, the tires screeching against the pavement. But as he continued down the street, he saw a person jaywalking. They weren’t paying attention to their surroundings and were holding a box of stuff in their arms. Petey’s eyes widened at this and slammed on the brakes. The car came to a screeching halt, barely missing the jaywalker. The person didn’t even look over; they just kept walking. Petey’s shock and fear twisted into fiery rage.

“Hey, what the hell are you doing!? Don’t you know how to use your eyes!?” Petey yelled out as he got out of his police car, slamming the door shut. He was in his police uniform — navy blue police vest that read “POLICE” in white lettering, baby blue dress button-up dress shirt, black tie, and brown belt with a gold buckle and three pockets. His gold badge was clipped to his vest, shining in the sunlight. Looking beyond the uniform, the orange of his fur was heavily faded, looking closer to a dusty or faded orange, and his fur overall was rough, split, and frizzy. The tip of his left ear is stained black, and the split ends of the fur on his arms and legs are stained white. His whiskers, however, are combed and well maintained, and his green eyes sparkle in the sunlight like emeralds. The tip of his tail is, of course, flat, and that flat part is stained white as well.

Yep, this was certainly Petey! And a very pissed off one at that.

“Hey, I’m talking to you, dumbass!” Petey quickly walked over to the person and clasped their shoulder before turning them around. The cat’s eyes widened at the sight before him: the person’s eyes were glazed over in a daze, a pale purple fogging their eyes. Their body language was calm, and they didn’t even flinch at Petey’s actions and words. This could only mean one thing: this person had become a victim of his arch-enemy’s brainwashing pheromones.

“Excuse me, I must get these to my master.” The person stated nonchalantly, turning to walk away. Petey flinched and quickly unbuttoned the smallest of his belt pockets. He pulled out a small capsule that looked like smelling salts and ran up to the person, breaking the capsule in front of their nose. A soft gasp escaped the person as the salts entered their nose. The glazed look and foggy purple left their eyes, and they looked around in a panic. “W-where am I?”

“Relax, it’s okay. You’re safe now. Can you tell me what happened?” Petey reassured, closing the pocket.

“Oh, hello, Officer Petey! Umm, I can’t quite remember… Oh yeah! I was walking near the new theatre building when I heard people giggling and talking. I looked over to see a crowd of people and Dog Man standing in the middle! So, I walked over; he’s just such a cute doggy!” The person explained, smiling brightly.

“He’s not just a ‘cute doggy,’” Petey grumbled under his breath. He didn’t have the time to go over the same argument again: that Dog Man isn’t just some cute, handsome, sweet little doggy. He’s a master criminal who is trying to brainwash the masses into loving him and doing his bidding.

“Anyway, saw me and came over to me. He explained that he had brought his latest new perfume creation and asked if I would give it a whiff to see if it smelt good. I, of course, said yes! Then I don’t remember what happened after that, and now I’m here talking with you! Oh, and holding this box.” Petey took the box from the person’s arms.

“Just get out of here before you get hurt.” Petey said in an unamused tone.

“Alright, bye, Officer Petey!” And with that, the person strolled away. The tabby let out a deep sigh and shook his head.

“Focus, Petey. Dog Man, find Dog Man.” Petey mumbled to himself, walking back to his police car and getting inside. He set the box next to him on the center console and opened it up: it was tons of glass roll-on bottles, empty and ready to be used. A sigh escaped the cat; he should’ve guessed that’s what would be in this box.

He then closed the box and set it on the floor on the passenger side. “Okay, let’s get this done.” Petey pulled the seatbelt over himself and clicked it in, turned the car on, got the sirens and lights going again, and sped off down the street again.

“Now, where is that person with my roll-ons? How am I supposed to complete my plan without them?” Dog Man barked to himself as he paced the stage of the new theatre. Yes, Dog Man, half dog, half human. Usually known as the supa cop hero, but not here. Here, he is the big bad villain, though he was not viewed that way. But honestly, it worked to Dog Man’s advantage! The citizens let their guards down around him, seeing him as just a sweet, innocent, and oh so cute doggy. Some even recognized him from his profession before becoming a villain, so that was a double win in his eyes.

This made it so much easier to brainwash these fools. You see, Dog Man has created special pheromone perfumes that allow him to take control of those who smell it. A curated formula that the hybrid has spent months working on to make them perfect. Or purrfect, as his arch-nemesis would likely say. Oh, that cat sure knew how to get under Dog Man’s skin. His taunts, his actions, the way he so easily defeated the hybrid like it was nothing, and worst of all… that uniform of his.

Dog Man shuddered in disgust just thinking about it. He hated that stupid uniform of Petey’s. It just looked so ugly, and the way the tie was tucked into the cat’s police vest… it made Dog Man want to scream and tear his fur out! Petey would always rebut the hybrid’s complaints with, “It’s functional, not fashionable,” and it drove Dog Man crazy! Both - it could be both!

“Master, where do you want these fabrics?” A voice asked, pulling Dog Man out of his thoughts. He looked over and saw a woman holding a folded bundle of silk fabric of different colors. He smiled sweetly at the woman next to him.

“Just put them in the office next to the dressing rooms. Then you can come back for your treat. Thank you.” Dog Man signed, knowing the woman would understand.

“Yes, Master.” The woman spoke before turning and walking away. Dog Man cleared his throat and dusted off his clothes, his much superior clothing to Petey’s ugly ass uniform. The hybrid wore a dark purple velvet vest with gold stripes and gold buttons, matching pants that flowed at the bottom, a pale dark off-the-shoulder silk shirt with sheer chiffon long sleeves that cuffed just before his wrists then bloomed out, brown two inch heeled boot, and a burgundy red leather collar with a gold tag that had “DM” engraved on it. The shirt was low cut, exposing a good chunk of his chest and lower neck before the collar. The collar covered the stitches where the two halves met.

Yep, this outfit was so much better than Petey’s police uniform. Hell, he just overall was better looking than Petey! The gorgeous fur on his head was smooth, well-groomed, and well-maintained, displaying itself in a beautiful hue of light cocoa brown. This complemented the dark brown of his eyes, which shone brightly and were always dreamily half-lidded. His body was the perfect blend of soft fat and lean muscle, which was elegantly pronounced by his outfit. His skin was free from any blemishes besides the burn scars that lined his back. But honestly, could one even call them blemishes? His hands were soft, well-maintained, and his fingernails were clipped and painted in a stunning dark purple with an iridescent shimmer.

A satisfied, cocky smirk lined the hybrid’s face. Yes, he truly was better than Petey in every single way.

“Master, the camera and lights are ready. Shall I turn them on?” Another voice spoke out, breaking Dog Man out of his thoughts. He looked over at the man who had asked the question.

“Yes lights, no camera. I need everything else in place before we can use the camera. But keep it ready! You can come get your treat when you’re done with the lights.” Dog Man barked out at the man.

“Yes, Master.” The man said before walking away, heading to the stage light walkway above them. Dog Man smirked at this; yes, everything was coming together smoothly. Now, if only he could get those roll-ons he needs.

“Don’t count on it, Dog Man.” A voice called out from the top of the seating walkway, as if reading the hybrid’s mind. Dog Man flinched and looked at where the voice came from: it was Petey. “You’re going down this time.” Dog Man smirked at the intruder.

“Well, well, look who joined the party.” Dog Man barked out before the spotlights illuminated him almost like magic. “Welcome to the show. Why don’t you take a seat and relax?”

“I’m not sitting or relaxing, Dog Man. Stop your scheme and come quietly. It’ll be much easier on you.” Petey stated, standing his ground.

“Hmmm, let me think.” Dog Man placed his index finger on his chin and pondered the idea for a second. “No.” He barked out before whistling a bright tune. A rush of brainwashed people came at the command.

“Yes, Master?” Dog Man pointed at Petey and gave the crowd a look that said, “Get him” before he snapped his fingers. And they followed the command, charging at Petey. Petey flinched and ran out of the seating area, running into the main lobby of the theatre. The group followed him, trying to corner the cat. Petey scrambled to get over the concession stand counter and hid underneath it.

“Another day in paradise…” Petey mumbled to himself as he opened and reached into the biggest pocket of his belt. He pulled out a small smoke bomb. “The things I do for this city.” Petey looked over the concession stand and threw the bomb onto the ground. The crowd looked at the bomb and watched as smoke bellowed out of it. The people coughed as the smoke enveloped them. After a few minutes, the smoke dissipated, and the crowd was pulled out of their brainwashed state.

A cacophony of “whoa” and “what’s going on” rang out through the lobby.

“Okay, people, everything is going to be okay. You were just pulled out of yet another brainwashing attempt of Dog Man’s. Please make your way out of the building safely and calmly and get a safe distance away.” Petey explained, trying to get everyone out as quickly as possible so he could get back to capturing Dog Man. The people looked around at each other before shrugging and doing as they were told. Petey took a deep breath and, once everyone was out of the building, he ran back into the seating area.

But Dog Man was nowhere to be found. The tabby looked around and stalked down the walkway towards the stage, the stage lights still illuminating the stage in a glorious warm glow. Petey walked up the side steps that led to the stage and slowly walked across the stage until he reached center stage. Suddenly, a swooshing sound could be heard, like an object was heading Petey’s way. The cat flinched and looked around, unable to see because of the lights. That was until the object fell in front of him. And his eyes widened at the sight: a bright purple smoke bomb.

Petey tried to run away, but it was no use; the smoke bomb went off and quickly filled the stage with smoke and gas. It filled Petey’s nose and lungs, causing him to cough and fall to the stage below. A huffy, whistly laugh filled the silent room.

“Let’s see how functional that uniform of yours truly is, Officer.” Dog Man barked out from the catwalk where the stage lights dwell. Petey began feeling dizzy, the amount of smoke in his lungs making it hard to breathe. He could feel his body desperately trying to gather any semblance of air possible. Petey fumbled as he reached into the pocket of his belt and grabbed out a small device with a button on the side of it. He weakly pressed the button, and the device formed into a gas mask, which Petey quickly put on his face.

As he felt sweet, precious oxygen fill his lungs, Petey heard another huffy laugh, this time from in front of him.

“Wow, I guess that uniform is functional after all. Still looks ugly as sin though.” Dog Man teasingly barked.

“E-enough games, Dog Man! I’ve d-disbanded your little army.” Petey weakly spat out.

“Oh, poor kitty. Was I too rough with you?” Dog Man cooed in faux concern. “Maybe if you just stop fighting me and let me take over, you’d be able to just relax.” Petey growled at Dog Man’s words. He wasn’t going to let the hybrid win, not like this. Not ever.

“I’ll never stop fighting you. You will never, ever, take over. I will do everything in my power to keep you in Dog Jail once and for all. I don’t care how long it takes.” Petey stated, standing up and looking at the hybrid. They stood there for a minute, just staring at each other. The silence in the air was so thick you’d need an axe to cut through it.

“You look ridiculous right now.” Petey flinched at this. “But, if that’s how you want to play this, then fine. Because I will never stop trying to take over and seize my revenge. I will rule this world one day. It may not be tomorrow or a week from now. Hell, it may take years, but I don’t care. One way or another, this world will. Be. MINE!” Dog Man howled out before charging at Petey. The cat quickly dodged the attack but tripped over his tail and fell back onto the stage. Dog Man stormed over and grabbed Petey before throwing him into the seats of the audience.

Petey groaned as he hit the seats, falling to the ground. He panted heavily and whined softly as he stood up.

“Son of a bitch… Ugh…” Petey groaned out, rubbing his back. He looked over at Dog Man, who jumped down from the stage. “You should’ve surrendered when I gave you the chance.” Petey stated before the two rushed at each other. But this time Petey got the upper hand, grabbing the hybrid and pinning him to the base of the stage. “Dog Man, you’re under arrest!”

“Not today, kitty!” Dog Man growled out before kicking the cat off of him and climbing back onto the stage. Petey quickly pursued and tackled him to the ground, the two hitting the stage with a loud thud. Dog Man struggled in Petey’s grasp and elbowed the cat in the nose, hard. Petey hissed in pain and scratched Dog Man’s face as he tried to pin the hybrid down. Blood dripped from his nose onto the stage floor.

“Stay still and accept your fate!” Petey yelled out, using all of his strength to keep Dog Man pinned down.

“NEVER!” Dog Man howled out in protest, fighting back with all his strength. Somehow, Dog Man escaped Petey’s grasp, and the two began fist-fighting. Or, well, Dog Man used his fists and Petey used his claws. Slash punch. Slash punch. Slash punch. Each fresh wound caused more blood to litter the stage. And by the end of their fight, they were both covered in wounds; Petey now covered in bloody bruises, and Dog Man covered in slashes and claw marks.

The fight only ended when Petey finally got Dog Man in handcuffs and into his police cruiser. And off to Dog Jail they went. The ride was silent, something that Petey was grateful for. He just needed some peace and quiet after all of this. Once they got to the jail, Petey brought the hybrid in and took him to his jail cell. Unlike the other dogs in the jail that had cellmates, Dog Man got a cell for himself. Due to him being a hybrid, it was easier to keep him in a cell by himself.

“Now, stay there.” Petey said as the cell door closed.

“Oh, trust me… I won’t.” Dog Man signed, smirking at the cat. Petey’s fur bristled, and a growl escaped him as he walked away. When would this dog learn to just stay put and go through his sentence? It would make everyone’s life easier, including his. Petey walked out of the jail and back to his cruiser, climbing into the driver's seat. He stretched his back, which hurt like hell, and grabbed his radio.

“Chief Sarah, this is Petey. Come in.”

“Petey! There you are! I was starting to get worried. Did you catch Dog Man?” Sarah asked through the radio.

“No need to worry about me, Chief. I’ll be alright. And yes, Dog Man has been caught and is now in his cell where he belongs.” Petey answered.

“Great job, Petey! Why don’t you go home and get some rest? I know it’s been a long day. You can fill out the paperwork tomorrow.”

“No, it’s okay. Besides, there are some things I need to grab and complete anyway. I’ll be there in a few minutes. Over,” Petey said, starting his car.

“Very well, Petey. Chief out.” Petey put his radio away and drove away. Yep, another fun day in paradise.

“Ugh, fuck me.” Petey groaned out as he flopped down on the couch in his living room. A soft groan escaped him as he felt the warm, cradling comfort of the couch cushions. It was like lying down on a big fluffy cloud. His body was sore and in pain from today’s adventures, and all he wanted to do was fall asleep and forget today ever happened. Petey looked up at the clock hanging on the wall — 6:35 PM.

When he got back to the station, he got all of his remaining work plus the paperwork regarding Dog Man all within an hour, which Petey expected. He was always good at getting that stuff done, even when he was sore or in pain. He just knew that it was better to get that stuff done now rather than later. He now had the rest of the night to relax and deal with the soreness and pain.

Petey reached for the remote that rested on the nightstand next to the couch and turned it on, the news channel already on.

“Welcome back, Ohkay City! This is Clarence Bailey, bringing you today’s exciting news. Earlier today, another epic battle between Supa Cat Cop Petey and Dog Man, once the modeling duo Knight and Greg, occurred at the new theatre on Opera Street.” Petey rolled his eyes and groaned loudly. He still couldn’t believe that the people of this city couldn’t see Dog Man for the threat that he is! He’s a dangerous, highly skilled and intelligent criminal who is trying to brainwash this city into being his devoted followers to take over the world! How could they not see that?

Petey quickly changed the channel, a zombie movie popping up. Not his favorite, but better than having to think about Dog Man and their fight.

“I swear, the things I put myself through to keep this city safe…” Petey mumbled to himself, rubbing his forehead.

‘Better than being in Cat Jail and scrimping on the streets.’ He thought to himself, thinking about the life he could be living right now. And… it was true. His life could be much, much worse. Petey lay on the couch for a good two hours, just letting his body practically melt into the couch. But then the siren call of hunger rang from his stomach and he needed to get something to eat. Petey slowly peeled himself off the couch and sluggishly made his way to the kitchen.

It was clean and organized, but relatively empty. Only consisting of a table, a chair, a fridge with an attached freezer, and drawers and cabinets that have small amounts of pots, pans, silverware, plates, and bowls. While he can cook, Petey wasn’t able to do it often, given his work schedule and usually resorted to takeout and small snacks. And honestly, he wasn’t in the mood to call for takeout, so the snacks would have to do! Petey walked over to his fridge, opening it gently. There wasn’t a lot in there, but what was there was a large tub of yogurt. And that would suffice for tonight.

He grabbed the tub and closed the fridge, walking over to the drawers and opening one to grab a spoon. Once the spoon was in his paw, he closed the drawer and walked to the dining room table, taking a seat. Unsheathing a claw, he popped off the lid of the yogurt tub, allowing it to fall onto the tabletop. A sigh escaped him as he looked around at the emptiness of not only his kitchen but his home as well.

It seemed so stupid; he spent most of his life alone. He was used to it by now. Even with the life he has now, he only has a few friends. Hell, even when he was a kitten and surrounded by others, he was still lonely. So, why did he wish for more? Why did he want to fill this empty, cold home with warmth and laughter? Why did he want a home that he was excited to come to? Petey groaned and shook his head as he began eating his yogurt. He didn’t want to think about that right now.

Right now, Petey just wanted to enjoy this rare moment of tranquility. Besides, this life wasn’t too bad. No, not too bad at all.

Chapter Text

“Good morning, Ohkay City! This is Clarence Bailey with the morning report! In breaking news, Dog Man has once again escaped from Dog Jail. Seems like Officer Petey won’t be a very happy camper today. Though I don’t know how he couldn’t be; he’s just a cute doggy. In other news, two industrial barrels of highly toxic chemicals were stolen from the research lab during the break of dawn. Police are investigating the incident, though no further reports have been made. This case will be updated as the investigation progresses.” Dog Man turned off the TV with a huge smirk. He had kept his promise that he wouldn’t be staying in his cell and was back to formulating an evil scheme.

“Those fools really have no clue, do they? They really think I’m just a sweet, innocent little doggy. HAW! It’s kinda cute though. And it makes my job so much easier.” Dog Man barked to himself, walking over to a large metal door that sat in the middle of the far wall. “But I mustn’t keep the fans waiting now. My sweet little pups must miss me dearly.” Dog Man opened the metal door and walked down the stairs, closing the door behind him. As he walked down, the smell of chemicals and fragrance oils hit him, causing a shiver of delight to run down his spine.

When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he went over to the clothes hangers attached to the far wall and grabbed a white lab coat. He then walked to a nearby table and grabbed a pair of safety goggles and gloves. Dog Man put them on before heading into the large open area before him: his laboratory. You see, even before becoming Dog Man, he had been fascinated by the world of chemistry, perfume making, and the effects these things can have on people. And when he became Dog Man and finally had a human body to work with, he immediately used it to his advantage and began working on his pheromone perfumes and fragrances.

He couldn’t do this all alone, however. The world of chemistry is quite complex, and though Dog Man was smart, it took him a while to grasp all the knowledge he needed. So, he got someone to help him.

“Terrence! How are things going over there?” Dog Man barked, walking over to the workstation. There stood a tall, well-built, brown and white terrier with shimmering grey eyes; Terrence. He wore a white lab coat, gloves, and safety goggles, as well as a dark purple leather collar with a silver tag. Dog Man had met Terrence shortly after his transformation and knew that the dog would be very helpful with his plans. And of course, the poor thing had a puppy crush on the hybrid.

“E-Everything is working as intended, Dog Man. It’s ready for your expertise.” Terrence barked, his tail wagging tentatively.

“Good boy, Terry. Let’s get to work!” Dog Man barked back, scratching underneath the dog’s chin before getting to work. Terrence melted at Dog Man’s touch before snapping himself out of it and getting to work as well. The two worked throughout the entire day, mixing, adding, failing, re-trying, and eventually getting the results Dog Man wanted. When they were done, Dog Man held up a roll-on container with the final product: a pastel purple magenta perfume that smelled of citrus and jasmine. And best of all, it was the strongest pheromone perfume they made yet! Petey’s little reverse bombs wouldn’t be able to pull people out of this haze.

Dog Man let out a huffy evil chuckle; yes, this time he would take Petey down, and this world would finally be his!

“D-do you like it?” Terrence barked, smiling sheepishly at the hybrid’s laugh.

“Like it? I LOVE IT!” Dog Man continued chuckling. “This is perfect! It’s exactly what’s going to bring Petey down once and for all! And this world and everyone in it will be mine. They’ll love and adore me again, and I’ll be able to take down that disgusting manager who threw me out like trash. He thought I couldn’t get the masses to like me. He thought I was… ugly! Just some disgusting freak! Well, I’m not! And everyone is going to see that soon. They’ll see that all they need is me! ME!” An evil, huffy laugh escaped the hybrid, followed by a loud, prideful howl. The howl made him stop dead in his tracks.

“Y-you okay?” Terrence barked, concerned.

‘Control yourself! You’re not some disgusting mutt! You’re a distinguished gentleman! Keep those revolting tendencies in check!’ Dog Man’s brain screamed at him, causing the hybrid to shake his head. There was a small beat of silence before Dog Man took a deep breath and looked over at Terrence, smiling sweetly.

“Yes, I’m okay, Terry. Thank you for all your help. You’ve been such a good boy today. Let’s get cleaned up, and I’ll give you a treat.” Dog Man barked, putting the roll-on in the pocket of his pants. Terrence’s eyes lit up, and he nodded, beginning to clean up the workstation. Dog Man helped, and in 20 minutes, they had the workstation cleaned and were heading out of the lab. Once out of the lab, Dog Man turned to Terrence with a soft smile. “What kind of treat would Terry like today?” The terrier blushed slightly, his tail wagging softly.

“Y-your belly rubs are always nice. E-especially with the praises.” Terrence barked out softly, looking away in embarrassment.

“Oh, now. There’s no need to be embarrassed, Terry. I just want to give you what you deserve for being a good boy today. And if belly rubs and praises are what I have to do, then so be it.” Dog Man cooed, rubbing Terrence’s belly and whispering sweet praises into the dog’s ear. This went on for a few minutes, Terrence enjoying every second of it. When Dog Man was done, he politely excused Terrence out of his hideout and, once the dog was gone, took out the roll-on he had placed in his pocket earlier.

He admired it, another evil, huffy chuckle escaping him. Oh, Petey better prepare himself for this. He won’t know what hit him.

Dog Man walked down the quiet streets of the city. It was now two in the afternoon, and most people were at work or running errands. And Petey is probably drowning in paperwork right now. For some reason, this became the prime time for paperwork to be dumped on the officer’s desk. But that was perfect for Dog Man as it gave him ample opportunity to set his plan into motion. All he needed was an hour tops, and everything would be ready.

As the hybrid walked down the street, his mind wandered to Petey and their battle yesterday. He hoped that mangy cat knew that he got lucky yesterday. If he hadn't found the guy with the roll-ons and didn't have his little smoke bombs, he wouldn't have won. He didn't even deserve to win. He's an arrogant, selfish cat with an ugly-ass uniform. A shudder ran down Dog Man’s spine thinking of the uniform. How was it fair that Petey always won their battles? Why can't Dog Man just win and finally have what he deserves?

“Stupid, ugly-ass cat… He doesn't even deserve all those wins. He doesn't deserve praise from the masses. But I do! I deserve to win! I deserve praise from the masses! I deserve respect and recognition! IT SHOULD BE ME, NOT HIM!” Dog Man barked out in rage, his body shaking with anger. He’d never admit it, but he was jealous of Petey. Jealous that he got all this love and attention when he didn't even deserve it! Dog Man never got that. Not unless he performed for it or used his perfumes. But Petey just got it all without having to lift a finger!

He could tell the masses to jump, and they’d ask, “How high?” It's just not fair! Dog Man was a good boy. He never did anything to deserve this loneliness. And yet here he was, scheming to gain the attention of others and practically groveling to a lovesick dog just to make it happen! How is that fair? Why couldn't he just be loved without having to perform for it? Why did he only get love by force or by performing? Why couldn't everyone just see that if he were in charge, the world would be a better place?

But that didn't matter. Because one way or another, Dog Man would show everyone that he's all they need. All they need to do is give him what's rightfully his. And it doesn't matter how hard Petey fights back. This world will be his, whether anyone likes it or not. A group of voices snapped Dog Man out of his thoughts, and he looked over to see a group of young people standing across the street, talking and laughing. An evil smirk lined his lips. A group of friends out for a little afternoon get-together? Perfect.

Dog Man straightened up his clothes and pulled out a small pocket mirror from his pants pocket, dolling himself up and making sure he was presentable. He'd never want to face the fans looking like a filthy mutt. Once he was done, he pulled the roll-on with the new formula out and rubbed a good amount on his neck and behind his ears. The best part of his perfumes was that since they were made with his pheromones, he could never fall under the spell of his own creations.

He put the mirror and roll-on away and sauntered over to the group, who had yet to notice him. But they would. By god, they would. Dog Man let out a soft bark to get their attention. The group turned and looked at Dog Man, their eyes lighting up in recognition and joy.

“Oh, my gosh! It’s Dog Man! He's so cute!” One girl squealed, jumping up and down excitedly.

“And so handsome too! Just look at his muscles!” Another voice said as they fanned themselves.

“Don't worry, Dog Man, we all know ASL! We actually all met in the same ASL class!” A guy spoke up, knowing that the hybrid would likely want to speak with them.

“Thank you all so much for your praise. It’s nice to meet all of you! Out for a little get-together?” Dog Man signed, smiling sweetly at the group.

“Yeah! We like to get together when the city isn't so crowded and busy so we can enjoy ourselves to the max!” The first girl responded, giggling softly. Dog Man’s ears perked up at this. Oh, this was going swimmingly. “What are you doing out and about? Aren't you afraid Officer Petey will come and arrest you?”

“Oh, I’m not worried about him. He's probably deep in a pile of paperwork right now. And besides, I know how to get away if he comes around.” Dog Man signed, smirking mischievously. The group giggled and laughed at his comment. “But to answer your question, I was on my way to show off my latest perfume creation! I think it's the best so far, but I might just be biased.”

“Ooh! Can we smell? We’ve never gotten the chance to sample your lovely perfumes!” A final voice pipes up, causing the rest of the group to agree and plead. Well, this just keeps getting better and better! He didn't even have to ask if they wanted a whiff! And who was he to deny his fans what they wanted?

“Well, since you asked so nicely, I'll let you have a little whiff.” Dog Man exposed his neck to the group, allowing them to smell the perfume he swiped on there. The group took their smells, complimenting the swirl of scents. After about a minute, the groups’ eyes glazed over in a purple haze. This time in a more pale purple magenta hue. “Well, do you like it?”

“Yes, Master.” The group responded in calm unison. Dog Man giggled and clapped giddily; oh yes, this plan was definitely going to work!

“Excellent! You know, I could really use some help with my little plan. You guys wouldn't mind helping me, would you?” Dog Man signed, smiling mischievously at the group.

“Of course not, Master. Anything for you.”

“Perfect! Follow me, and when you’ve all completed your tasks, I’ll give you a treat.” Dog Man turned and started walking away. The group silently followed him, ready for his next command. Dog Man chuckled a huffy, evil chuckle as he walked. Yes, this plan surely can’t fail!

“You two, fix these curtains. I can’t have them looking all wrinkly.” Dog Man signed to two people near him before pointing at the large purple velvet curtains that hung on either side of the stage.

“Yes, Master.” The two said in unison before rushing over to the curtains and fixing the curtains.

“Master, we’ve returned with a throne. Will this one suffice?” Dog Man looked over at a group of four people carrying a gorgeous French Style throne with gold framing and plush dark purple velvet seating. At the top of the framing above where Dog Man’s head would rest is an oval stained glass decoration with ‘DM’ within the glass. Dog Man’s eyes lit up, and he squealed in delight, clapping happily.

“Oh, it’s perfect! Just perfect! Set it where the taped Xs are!” Dog Man barked happily. The group nodded and set the throne done where it needed to be. Dog Man walked over to the throne and sat down, sighing with delight as he did. He then turned his attention to the group, praising them and giving them their desired treats before sending them off to complete another task. “Yeah, everything is going perfectly,” Dog Man barked to himself, reveling in the high of his plans working.

“Master, I brought Clarence Bailey as you requested.” A voice called out, Clarence standing next to them. The reporter waved at the hybrid.

“Hello, Dog Man! It’s an honor to meet you!” Dog Man smiled and stood from his throne.

“Thank you! Leave us to talk and help around.” Dog Man signed, walking to Clarence. The person nodded and walked off, leaving the hybrid and the reporter to talk. “Clarence, thank you for coming! It’s such a pleasure to meet you. I could really use your help.”

“Of course, Dog Man! It would be a pleasure to help you out!” Clarence smiled. “How can I help you?”

“I need to get a broadcast out to the public but don't have the means to do so. Do you think you could help me get a broadcast out tonight?” Dog Man signed, his eyes softening into puppy-dog eyes.

“Oh, yes! I can certainly help with that! Just tell me what time I should be back here and I’ll have everything ready!” Clarence said, grabbing his phone to type something out. Dog Man beamed with joy.

“Wonderful! Can you get everything ready for the five o’clock broadcast? I know it's a little soon, but this message is really important.”

“No, that's fine! I can totally have everything ready by then, Dog Man! This is going to get my ratings off the charts!” Clarence reassured, typing on his phone. After a minute, the reporter finished typing and looked back up at the hybrid. “There! I've secured a spot for you!”

“Thank you so much! I really appreciate the help.” Dog Man signed, smiling sweetly.

“Of course! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get everything together. I’ll see you soon, Dog Man.” And with that, Clarence walked away. An evil smirk formed on the hybrid’s lips as the reporter walked away.

'Let's see Petey try to stop this plan.'

“Alright, we’re setting everything up now, Dog Man! I'll let you know when we're ready!” Clarence said, smiling brightly at the hybrid who sat upon his throne. “And by the way, your throne is absolutely breathtaking!” Dog Man smiled and puffed out his chest with pride.

“Thank you, Clarence! My pups certainly did a fine job picking out this throne. And thank you again for helping me get my message out.” Dog Man signed, ending by putting his fingers on his chest.

“Of course! Stay close; we’ll have everything ready in a jiffy!” Clarence said before getting everything ready for the broadcast. Dog Man let out a satisfied sigh and leaned back in his throne, savoring this moment like a fine wine. The time had finally come. All he needed was to get this broadcast out, lure the masses to this location, and expel his new perfume formula onto them, and this world would finally be his!

He touched his face, flinching a bit at the fur on his head before he calmed down. A soft sigh escaped his lips; right, he’s part dog… It was sometimes hard to remember that fact, he was so comfortable in his human body and acting like a dog was just… so uncouth. His mind wandered to the days before he was Dog Man, when he was a show dog named Greg who worked alongside a famous model named Knight. And he thought about that asshole manager who threw him away like trash.

How dare he create the hybrid for his own selfish purposes, call Dog Man ugly, and then throw him away like he was nobody? Like he didn’t mean anything to the public. It was just so disrespectful and hurtful. And it just wasn’t fair. Dog Man did everything he was supposed to under the direction of Knight and the manager. He never broke the rules, stayed clean, and brought the masses in with his charm and cuteness. So why was he suddenly thrown away like trash just because he didn’t look the same as before? Dog Man had proven again and again that the masses still love him, regardless of his transformation.

‘Oh well, it’s his loss! Besides, he’ll soon see just how wrong he was for getting rid of me.’ Dog Man thought to himself, smirking evilly. He couldn’t wait to see the look on that asshole’s face when Dog Man rules the world and shows him just how worthy he is.

“Alright, Dog Man, we’re ready!” Clarence called out, snapping the hybrid out of his thoughts. “Are you ready to roll?” Dog Man quickly fixed himself up before he answered the man.

“Yes, I’m ready whenever you are!” Dog Man signed, smiling sweetly. Clarence looked over to the cameraman and gave them a thumbs up.

“Alright, we’ll go live in five, four, three, two-” The cameraman was cut off by a door slamming open.

“STOP EVERYTHING!” Petey yelled out, panting heavily. “Do NOT let him fool you! This is a TRAP!” Everyone looked at Petey in shock, looking like a deer in headlights. Except for Dog Man, who gave the cat a smug smirk and let out a huffy chuckle.

“Welcome to the throne room, Officer Petey. Bow down, kitty, because this world has a new ruler now.”

Chapter Text

“Stop this scheme of yours, Dog Man! It’s over! I’ve got this building surrounded!” Dog Man let out a huffy chuckle and shook his head. He knew Petey was bluffing, and it was just so cute watching him try so hard. Pathetic, but cute.

“Silly kitty, don’t you get it? You’ve already lost! You can’t defeat me this time! But if you really want to try, hit me with your best shot. It’ll be entertaining to watch you fail.” Dog Man barked, smirking wider at Petey. Petey glared at the hybrid, and a low growl rang out from the back of his throat. “Shall I call on the masses?”

“Enough!” Petey turned his attention to Clarence. “Clarence, I don’t know why he called you here, but you can’t listen to him! He’s trying to use you to take over the world!”

“What? No! He’s just trying to get an important message out to the people!” Clarence explained, smiling innocently. Petey's growl increased, and he grabbed the collar of the man’s shirt.

“Why can’t you people see him for the dangerous criminal he is?!” Petey screamed out.

“Petey, have you ever considered that maybe, just maybe, because you seem to be the only one who views him as a criminal, that maybe you’re the one who’s wrong? I mean, it’s like my dad used to say, ‘If you bump into an asshole on the street, you’ve met an asshole. But if everyone you bump into is an asshole, then you might be the asshole.’” Petey froze, his eye twitching as his brain felt like it was going to explode.

“NO! THIS IS NOTHING LIKE THAT! YOU GUYS JUST REFUSE TO SEE HIM FOR WHAT HE TRULY IS! A WHINY, SELFISH, BRATTY, NO-GOOD, COCKY, DANGEROUS, MANIPULATIVE VILLAIN!” The room went silent again at Petey’s outburst. But soon, the sound of Dog Man tsking filled the air. This only made Petey angrier.

“Aw, the poor kitty is having a little temper-tantrum.” Dog Man mockingly cooed. “Don’t worry, Officer Petey. When this is all over, you won’t have to think about this anymore. Won’t that be nice? To just relax and no longer have to stress about life?”

“I’ll NEVER be one of your mindless zombies, Dog Man! I’d rather die.” Petey hissed out. Suddenly, the room was filled with people under Dog Man’s spell, looking at Petey and ready for any commands they might get. A sigh escaped Dog Man’s throat.

“Fine, have it your way. Let’s see you handle this.” And with that, Dog Man snapped his fingers, causing the crowd to go after him. Petey quickly grabbed one of his smoke bombs and threw it on the ground. The gases released and spread throughout the room. Clarence and his camera crew coughed as they inhaled the gas. However, the crowd didn’t falter and kept going towards Petey.

“W-what?! How is this possible?!” Petey yelled out in confusion, backing away from the crowd.

“Do you like my new formula, kitty? It took a lot of effort to make. And best of all… your little bombs can’t reverse its effects.” The cat’s eyes widened at this. No… this couldn’t be! How could this have happened? “Face it, kitty, I win.” Dog Man barked, smirking evilly at Petey.

“No! No, I won’t accept this! You will be defeated, Dog Man!”

“You’re just so stubborn, kitty. Whoever catches Petey gets a special treat of their choosing!” Dog Man barked to the crowd. Some had to translate for others, but then the crowd pursued Petey, causing the cat to flee the scene. The crowd followed him. Dog Man let out a huffy chuckle before looking at Clarence and his crew. “Are you all okay?”

“Yes, Dog Man, we’re okay.” Clarence said through soft coughs.

“I’m sorry about that. I don’t know why Officer Petey has a vendetta against me. It’s not fair.” Dog Man signed, whining and pouting in a sad puppy-dog pout.

“I don’t know either! It just doesn’t make any sense!” Clarence sighed before smoothing out his suit. “But not to worry! If we do this right now, we can still get your message out!” Dog Man beamed at this and adjusted himself to the position he was in before being interrupted.

“Then let’s not waste anymore time!” Clarence nodded and signaled for the camera crew to start up again.

“Alright, we’re live in five, four, three.” The cameraman mouthed two and one as he turned the camera on and started the broadcast.

“Good evening, Ohkay City! This is Clarence Bailey with a very special guest! Today, I’m here with the one and only Dog Man, who has a very important message he’d like to get out. So, without further ado, here’s Dog Man with his message.” Clarence said before moving out of the camera’s view. The camera then pointed at Dog Man, who took a deep breath before presenting his message.

“Hello beautiful creatures of Ohkay City! This is Dog Man, here to bring forward a special message that I hope will reach those who need it. I see you. I see how hard you all work, how much time and energy you spend each day, how much thinking you have to do on a daily basis. I get it; I really do. It just feels like there’s not enough time to just relax and enjoy life for what it is. And I want to help with that. I want to help get rid of all that tension and stress. So, please let me help you. Join me here at the recreational center, and I promise I’ll take all your pain and suffering away. Please let me help you be a brighter, happier being. Let me be your light in the never-ending darkness. Let me be your sanctuary.” Dog Man gave his speech, barking and signing. By the end, Clarence and the camera crew were trying desperately not to cry, tears spilling down their cheeks like waterfalls. “Thank you for listening to my message. I hope it finds you all well.” Clarence quickly wiped his eyes and walked back into view of the camera.

“A-and that was Dog Man, everybody, with that absolutely beautiful message. This is Clarence Bailey, signing off.” The cameraman turned off the camera, and the crew burst into tears, blubbering and sobbing into each other’s arms. Clarence sniffled before turning his attention to Dog Man. “That really was an important message. I’m glad you could get it out.”

“Well, I couldn’t have done it without your help, Clarence. So, thank you so much for your hard work,” Dog Man signed, rising from his throne and walking over to the man. “And you know, that message was for you and your crew as well. I can’t imagine how hard you’ve all worked to get to this position today. And I can help ease all that tension and pain. All you have to do is ask.” Clarence looked down and rubbed the back of his neck nervously before speaking again.

“Oh, I don’t know if I really deserve it. And besides, I really do like my job!” Dog Man gently lifted the man’s head up, looking into Clarence’s eyes.

“Just because you love your job doesn’t mean you have to go through pain and sorrow to maintain it.” Dog Man signed sweetly, giving Clarence a soft smile. “Why don’t you think about it? I need to make a phone call.” Clarence simply nodded, and Dog Man walked away, pulling his burner phone out of his pocket. He went to the contacts and clicked the only one there: Terrence. The phone rang twice before Terrence picked up.

“D-Dog Man, I saw your broadcast message. It was really beautiful.” Terrence shyly barked out.

“Aww, Terry! You’re sweet as pie! Are you busy right now? I could really use your help!” Dog Man barked back, a small mischievous smirk lining his lips.

“I-I’m always available to help you, Dog Man. How can I be of service?”

“You still own that industrial plant, right? The one with the huge vats?” Dog Man barked in question.

“I do!” Terrence answered, causing Dog Man’s smirk to widen.

“Could I use it? My new formula is a smashing success, and I’m going to need to make a lot more of it to keep up with demand.”

“O-of course you can! I can meet you there in a couple of hours if that works for you.” Dog Man beamed at this, and euphoria buzzed through his whole body.

“That’s perfect, Terry! You’re the best boy, you know? I don’t know what I’d do without you!” Dog Man barked sweetly.

“Oh, I’m sure you could manage without me.” Terrence barked back shyly in response.

“Terry, learn to take a compliment, will you? Now, I have to go! I’ll text you when I’m ready to meet, okay?”

“S-sounds good! Talk to you later. Bye, Dog Man.”

“Bye, Terry.” Dog Man barked before hanging up. Oh yes, it’s all falling into place for Dog Man! Petey better count his blessings, because there’s no way this plan will fail!

“UGH! How could this have happened?! How did he create such a powerful formula so fast? And how can I defeat him? Without a sample of this new formula, the world is practically doomed! WHY CAN’T PEOPLE JUST SEE HIM FOR WHAT HE REALLY IS?!” Petey yelled out, pacing back and forth in front of Chief Sarah’s desk. Sarah watched as Petey paced, just as confused as he was about this situation. She was in her police uniform: a long-sleeved baby blue button-up shirt, gold police badge, navy blue dress pants, a black belt with a gold buckle and a black belt pocket, and black shoes. On her head was a baby blue police hat with a black bill and the word ‘Chief’ in black writing. Her red hair was pulled back into a low bubble bun.

She just couldn’t believe this. Was Dog Man really about to win? Had they failed to protect the city? In Sarah’s lap was Zuzu, her best friend and loyal companion for years now. She’s a light gray poodle with white tufts of fluffy fur around her neck, paws, and the end of her tail. Around her neck is a baby blue collar with a gold police badge tag. The two had fought crime together before Sarah became chief, and they were widely known throughout the city as the best crime-fighting duo. In all their years of fighting crime, they’d never seen a villain get this close to winning before. And it was terrifying.

“Petey, I know you’re scared and confused; I am too. But we can’t let ourselves falter to these feelings. That’s exactly what Dog Man wants. We need to find a way to defeat him and put him back in Dog Jail,” Sarah said, trying to calm the cat down. “I know that together, we can win this battle.” Petey stopped in his tracks and took a slow, deep breath in and slowly let it out. Sarah was right; he needed to calm down and think through this rationally. There must be a way to stop Dog Man’s plan from coming to fruition. But how?

“Okay, we know that Dog Man has the new formula and is currently putting more and more people under his spell after that broadcast. We also know he’s not going to just have it lying around where anyone can just grab it. So, we need to figure out a way to A, keep the brainwashed people off our backs, and B, get a sample of the formula.” Petey explained, placing his pointer finger on his chin, pondering the situation. Yes, they could easily hold off a couple of small brainwashed groups, but as the number of people getting brainwashed increases, it will get harder and eventually, they may get caught.

No, they needed to be smarter than that. They needed to figure out where Dog Man might hold some of this new formula. Petey began pacing again as he continued to ponder. Sarah also pondered the situation, scratching the back of Zuzu’s ear. After a few minutes of mumbling to himself, a light bulb lit up in Petey’s head. A smile formed on his lips as the idea came together.

“I’ve got it!” Petey exclaimed, causing Sarah and Zuzu to look at the tabby. “Look, Dog Man’s going to need a place to produce large quantities of his new formula, right?”

“Well, yes. He is going to need that. Especially with how many people he’s brainwashing.” Sarah replied. Zuzu barked in agreement.

“So, he's likely going to need to access some sort of industrial facility, a place with large vats to mass produce his formula. I can create a special camera that we can attach to Zuzu’s collar, which can not only gather recorded evidence of his evil scheme, but can also scan the area and give us an exact location of where he's producing the new formula! Then, we can sneak in and get a sample of the formula!” Petey explained, beaming with pride as he did. Sarah and Zuzu looked at each other and smiled at the plan before looking back at Petey.

“It's perfect, Petey!” Sarah exclaimed, Zuzu barking happily in agreement. “How long will it take you to make the camera?”

“Not too long — an hour, maybe an hour and a half at the most. I have a bunch of spare parts in the desk; I just need a quiet, isolated space to work.”

“You can use one of the interrogation rooms. I doubt they'll be needed much today considering what's going on around here.” Petey nodded, now confident that they could still win this battle and keep Ohkay City safe.

“I’ll meet you both in here when I’m finished with the camera.” Petey said before exiting Sarah’s office, closing the door behind him, and walking over to his desk. He opened the drawers of his desk and began picking out all the parts he needed to make the camera.

Back in Sarah’s office, Sarah watched as Petey left before taking a deep breath and looking at Zuzu.

“You sure you're up for this? I’m sure we can figure something else out if you aren't comfortable.” Sarah asked, petting Zuzu’s head. Zuzu barked in reassurance. She was ready to do whatever was needed to get the job done. She might be older now, but she's still got the gusto, and she knows she's the best one for the job. Zuzu's small enough to get past the brainwashed people undetected and will be the best to follow Dog Man and find out what facility he's going to use. Sarah smiled and scratched behind Zuzu’s ears. “You really are the bravest dog I know. Just be careful out there, okay?”

Zuzu barked happily and curled up in Sarah’s lap. Sarah smiled and kept petting Zuzu. She just hoped all of this would be over soon.

Well, it actually took closer to two hours to complete, but it was finally done: Petey finished making the camera. He let out a breath he’d been holding in and inspected the camera. It was a small black box with an undetectable camera lens on the front. There was also a speaker to capture noise and a little scanner above the lens. There was a small clip on the back so it could hook onto Zuzu’s collar with ease and stay in place. It was the perfect device to aid in Dog Man’s takedown.

Petey stood up from his seat, his back cracking and popping as he stretched it out before quickly exiting the interrogation room and walking back to Sarah’s office. Funny enough, it was the same interrogation room he’d been in almost four years ago. When he was a villain terrorizing the dangerous streets of Ohkay City. Back when everyone was too afraid to look at someone the wrong way or to even go to the grocery store. Yes, despite now being a cop, he was once a villain for a short while.

He was going through a rough patch in his life, having been arrested for stealing from a previous employer, and couldn’t find anyone who would hire him. So he decided to do what he does best: inventing. And with the state of the city, why not capitalize on it? Besides, he knew he could do better than most of these so-called “villains.” And he did! With his inventions and intellect, he rose to a standard of living he had never experienced before. The best part was that he was never caught.

Sarah and Zuzu are wonderful cops, don’t get him wrong! And there were tons of times were he almost was caught, but he always one-upped them and got away. That was until about nine months into his villainous reign.

“Stop right there, Petey!” Sarah called out, chasing the feline down the streets of Ohkay City. Zuzu followed beside her, barking at Petey. The tabby was a few feet ahead of them, a bag of money slung over his shoulder.

“Not today, Chief! I’ve got a little date with a nice pile of money, and it would be rude of me to be late. Au revoir! HAW HAW HAW!” Petey exclaimed, running away faster and turning the corner onto a rough patch of road. Sarah and Zuzu ran after him faster, turning onto the street and keeping their pace. However, things would take a turn for Petey that would lead to his whole life changing forever: he took a wrong turn. Instead of going down the alley that would lead him back to his secret lab, he turned down a dead-end alley, with no way for him to escape.

“Shit!” Petey cursed out, turning back to run out of the alley, only to be faced by Sarah and Zuzu.

“End of line, Petey. You’re under arrest!” Sarah said with a proud smile while Zuzu growled and stayed alert in case the cat tried to do anything. “Come quietly, and this can all be over.” Petey frantically looked around, desperate to find an escape. There was none. But Petey wasn’t about to back down so easily. No, he would have to be taken down to go back to jail again.

“Over my dead body, Chief,” Petey said before lunging at her and Zuzu, ready for a fight. But Sarah, ready for this possibility, pulled out her stun gun and pulled the trigger. Petey groaned and writhed as the electric currents flowed through his body. When the electric currents stopped, Petey fell to the ground, dropping the bag of money. A soft whine of pain escaped him. Sarah sighed as she walked to him.

“You just had to do this the hard way, huh?” Sarah asked as she hoisted him over her shoulder and grabbed the bag of money. “Come on, Zuzu. Let’s get back to the station.”

Petey struggled in the handcuffs as he sat in the cold, way too brightly lit interrogation room. How could he have let himself be caught like that? He’s supposed to be better than this. On the other side of the glass stood Sarah, Zuzu, and another officer, watching as Petey tried to escape the handcuffs.

“Why aren’t we just sending him to Cat Jail, Chief? We know all the crimes he’s committed, and we have ample proof that he committed them. So why did you bring him here?” The officer asked, looking over at Sarah.

“Don’t you see how brilliant he is? How talented he is? Don’t you understand how helpful he could be if he were on our side? I know that I could’ve taken him straight to Cat Jail, and if he declines my offer, then I will. But… I think he deserves a shot at something greater. I can see beyond the evil schemes; I see someone who just wants a chance to be themselves and live a life beyond what others think he can have. So, I want to give him that chance.” Sarah explained, looking at Petey through the glass. “I know it seems crazy, but I’d be beside myself if I didn’t at least try.” The officer sighed softly and nodded.

“I don’t see it, but I trust you, Chief.” Sarah smiled and looked over at the officer.

“Thank you. Now, I’m going in. Watch Zuzu for me.” Sarah said before walking out of the room and to the door of the interrogation room. She took a deep breath before opening the door and walking into the room. “Petey, stop all that squirming; you’re not getting out of those cuffs.” Petey looked at her and chuckled softly.

“Well, look who finally decided to show up. I thought you were just going to have some other sucker ream me. What, don’t have enough evidence of my crimes? Hilarious! Go ahead, Chief! I won’t say a word.” Petey said with a smirk, leaning back in the uncomfortable metal chair. Sarah sat down in front of him, not giving in to his taunts.

“This isn’t about that, Petey. In fact, I don’t want to talk about your crimes at all.” Sarah revealed, looking into Petey’s eyes. “I want to talk about your brilliant inventions.” Petey’s face immediately shifted into unsure confusion, looking Sarah up and down for any signs of a trick.

“You’re pulling my leg, aren’t you?” Petey asked, still unsure of Sarah’s intentions.

“No, I mean it! Your inventions are absolutely spectacular! I’ve never seen anyone make machines like you do! It must take a lot of work to create them.” Sarah reassured, her voice sincere and bright. Petey’s expression softened at this. No one’s complimented or appreciated his inventions since… since his mom. “And I know you could do wonderful things with your inventions if you were just given a chance. So, that’s why I want to offer you a spot on the police force!” Petey’s body stiffened, and his ears perked up at this. She didn’t really just say that, did she?

“What?” Petey asked, his brain unable to process her words.

“I want to give you a spot on the force! With your intelligence and inventions, I just know you would make a great cop! Hell, you could be the key to bringing the city back to its former glory!” Sarah explained, her smile widening. “And if you join the force, you’ll be pardoned for all your previous crimes, including your very first theft. So, what will it be: join the force or go to Cat Jail?”

“W-wait! I have to choose now? I don’t even get a minute to think about it? This is kind of a big decision, you know,” Petey said, still trying to process everything. “I mean, can’t I get like five minutes to think about it?” Sarah's smile softened, and she nodded.

“Okay, I’ll give you five minutes. Then the choice is yours.” And with that, Sarah stood up and walked out of the room, allowing Petey to think. On one hand, he enjoyed the freedom being a villain gave him. Nobody could tell him what to do, how to act, or what to say. He could just be himself. On the other hand, though, he also hated the state of the city. Sure, being a villain is fun, but these people were constantly fearing for their lives. They never have the chance to truly relax because they constantly have to look over their shoulder.

Petey knew all too well what that was like. Besides, this was his chance to do something good, like his mom had always wanted for him. And he could do it by being himself. He didn’t have to give up inventing again; it can become a part of something greater. Sarah came back in after the time was up and sat back down in front of Petey.

“Well, what’s your choice?” She asked, looking into his eyes. Petey looked back into hers, a confident smile spreading across his lips.

“I’m in.” Sarah smiled and stood up, walking over to him and uncuffed the handcuffs from Petey’s wrists. She then held out her hand.

“Welcome to the force, Officer Petey.” Petey’s smile grew as he stood up and shook her hand. Yes, it truly was a decision that changed his life forever.

“Sarah, I’ve got the camera made.” Petey said, entering Sarah’s office. Sarah looked at him and stood up from her chair, holding Zuzu in her arms.

“Great! Let’s do this then! Ready, Zuzu?” The poodle barked in affirmation, her tail wagging gently. Petey walked over and clipped the camera onto Zuzu’s collar before making sure it stayed in place.

“There! Okay, Zuzu, now when you get to whatever facility Dog Man’s using, bark once and the scanner will scan the area and give us the location coordinates. It’s set to only recognize your bark, so don’t worry about Dog Man’s barks, okay?” Petey explained, making sure the camera was up and running. Zuzu barked in understanding. “Alright, you’re all set!” Sarah walked over to the window and opened it for Zuzu to jump out of.

“Good luck, Zuzu! Stay safe.” Sarah said, smiling at her companion. Zuzu gave Sarah a small doggy kiss on the cheek before jumping out the window and beginning the journey to find Dog Man. Now, all they had to do was wait.

“T-this is the place! There’s over 30 large vats that can mass produce whatever you may need to produce. You can also split the vats and make more than one product if you’d like.” Terrence explained, showing off the industrial plant. He and Dog Man walked along the catwalk that overlooked the enormous room filled with large, empty vats ready to be used. Dog Man let out a huffy giggle of glee and clapped his hands.

“Oh, Terry, this is perfect!” Dog Man barked, marveling at the sight before him. He could just see it now: all these vats filled with his new formula, people fighting just to get it, and him finally ruling the world. Victory was here, and it tasted oh, so sweet! “You don’t know how helpful this is! Thank you for allowing me to use it.” Terrence blushed softly and looked away.

“Oh, it’s really no problem, Dog Man. I’d do anything to help you.” Dog Man looked at him and lifted his head.

“You really are the best boy, Terry. Shall we get started?” Terrence nodded, and the two walked away, ready to fill these vats to the brim with the new formula. As they walked, Dog Man looked over at the vats, an evil smirk spreading across his lips, and his mind wandered to Petey. He wondered if the cat was shaking his boots right now, desperately trying to find a way to defeat him. Maybe soon Petey will finally give up and give in like everyone else has. Then he could finally dress the cat in something other than that gross uniform. Dog Man shivered at the thought of Petey’s uniform.

Come to think of it, he’s never seen Petey in anything other than his police uniform. What kind of clothing does the cat like? Maybe soft, comfortable clothing. Or maybe he likes form-fitting clothes. Hell, maybe he doesn’t like any clothes besides his stupid uniform. Maybe Petey likes to rock his birthday suit when not on duty. I mean, it’s not illegal; anthro animals don’t have the same laws of nudity as humans do. So why shouldn’t he be naked if that’s what makes him most comfortable?

Huh… maybe Dog Man shouldn’t be thinking so much about Petey like this.

“D-Dog Man? Are you okay?” Terrence barked, snapping Dog Man out of his trance.

“Huh? OH! Yes, I’m okay! Sorry, just got a bit in my head there. Come on, let’s do this thing.” Dog Man barked, going back to walking with Terrence walking beside him.

‘Better watch out, Petey. This world is finally mine.’