Petey paced back and forth in the living room, his tail flicking anxiously.

Dog Man was late.

Really late.

And it was weird.

Dog Man always came home at the same time. Like clockwork. Every day at 7 PM, he'd burst through the door, wagging his tail, ready for dinner.

But right now?

It was 9:32 PM.

And the door was still closed.

Petey gritted his teeth. "Where is he?!"

Li'l Petey, who was sitting on the couch, kicked his legs lazily. "Maybe he's just working late? Y'know, catchin' bad guys and stuff!"

Petey frowned. "Yeah, maybe. But he usually tells us when that happens."

Li'l Petey tilted his head. "Are you worried?"

"What?! No!" Petey scoffed, crossing his arms. "Pfft. Why would I be worried?"

Li'l Petey smirked. "You're totally worried."

Petey groaned. "Look, I just think it's weird, okay? He's never this late."

Li'l Petey giggled. "You miss him!"

Petey's fur bristled. "Do not."

"Do too!"

"Do NOT!"

"Then why do you keep checkin' the door every two seconds?"

Petey froze.

Then, slowly, he turned away from the door and sat on the couch. "Shut up."

Li'l Petey grinned

——— By 10 PM, Petey's imagination was out of control

He slumped on the couch, dramatically holding his head "What if he got hit by a car?! What if he got arrested?! What if he fell in a giant hole and can't get out?!"

Li'l Petey gasped. "WHAT IF HE GOT ABDUCTED BY ALIENS?!"

Petey froze

His eyes widened

Li'l Petey giggled. "Ooooh! What if the aliens are turning him into a cyborg?!"

Petey groaned. "That's ridiculous."

Li'l Petey grinned. "You totally pictured it just now, didn't you?"

Petey had pictured it.

A terrifying image of Cyborg Dog Man flashed through his head, with glowing red eyes and a robotic voice saying:

"BEEP BOOP. I AM DOG-BOT. I EAT METAL BONES."

Petey shuddered. "Okay, now I'm even MORE worried." ——

At 10:17 PM, the front door finally swung open.

Dog Man stepped inside, wagging his tail.

"WHERE THE HECK HAVE YOU BEEN?!" Petey yelled.

Dog Man blinked.

Li'l Petey gasped. "You're ALIVE!" He ran over and hugged Dog Man's leg.

Dog Man tilted his head, confused.

Petey crossed his arms. "You're TWO HOURS LATE. You always come home at 7. I thought you were dead!"

Dog Man's tail wagged, and he pulled out his notepad.

"SORRY! HAD TO CHASE A BURGLAR!"

Petey frowned. "For TWO HOURS?!"

Dog Man flipped the page.

"HE WAS ON A SKATEBOARD." "I WAS ON ROLLER SKATES."

Petey blinked. "Oh my— You were chasing a criminal on ROLLER SKATES for TWO HOURS?!"

Dog Man nodded proudly.

Li'l Petey cheered. "AWESOME!"

Petey groaned. "Unbelievable."

Dog Man reached into his pocket and pulled out...

A donut.

He held it up like a trophy.

Petey narrowed his eyes. "What is that?"

Dog Man flipped another page.

"THE CHIEF GAVE ME A DONUT FOR CATCHING HIM!"

Petey facepalmed. "Let me get this straight. You spent TWO HOURS chasing a guy on roller skates, and your reward was a single donut?"

Dog Man nodded happily.

Petey groaned. "You are the DUMBEST cop I have ever met."

Li'l Petey giggled. "But he's OUR dumb cop!"

Dog Man wagged his tail proudly.

Petey sighed. "Fine. Whatever. You're home, you're alive, and I can finally stop worrying—"

Li'l Petey smirked. "TOLD you! You were worried!"

Petey's eye twitched his tail shot up. "I WAS NOT—"

Dog Man suddenly licked Petey's face.

"ACK! GROSS!!" Petey wiped his cheek. "STOP THAT!!"

Dog Man grinned.

Li'l Petey giggled. "That's what you get for worrying about Dog Man!"

Petey grumbled under his breath.

"Next time, I'm putting a tracker on you."

Dog Man just wagged his tail happy to head petey cares for him.

Meanwhile, Petey pretended to be annoyed.

...But deep down?

He was really glad Dog Man was home. . . . (I know Dogman doesn't have a tail anymore but I just can't write him without one))) :,)