Dogman x Petey

Dog Man poked his head out of the slightly open door, his tongue hanging out and a slobbery ball in his mouth. His eyes shone with that unwavering enthusiasm that seemed to renew itself every morning, as if he never gave up.

He approached with clumsy but determined steps to the corner where Petey usually sat hunched over, grumpy, reading or pretending to read to avoid conversation.

With a slight movement of his head, he dropped the ball at the cat's feet, who didn't even look at him.

—Hey… Petey —he said in a sweet and hopeful voice, wagging his tail—. Do you want to play fetch?

He made a muffled noise of excitement, like a puppy holding back his Christmas excitement. His posture was so absurdly hopeful that even a statue would have felt guilty saying no.