Her friends liked the party, they were right about her dad being strapped to a rocket about to explode, but he'd survived worse. Besides, she'd seen something that promised her he'd be home, safe, by the time she got back from the party.
His last act would be to explode in a firework for his little girl's party. A party she'd hated, and he was pretty sure the blast had melted away anyway. He struggled again to get his hand free. A fall from this far wouldn't kill him. Maybe the blast wouldn't either, come to think of it… he blew up more often than a normal person, which, probably wasn't giving himself enough credit. Still, with all the fireworks he'd crammed into this thing, this was probably the end.
He hoped Vanessa would have a richer life, and not be scarred emotionally from this moment. He used the hand dangling at his side to wipe away a tear. It wasn't fair! Why'd he have to go and build this rocket? He'd been planning on getting rid of Perry the platypus on Vanessa's birthday, thus letting him take over the Tri-State-Area unhindered, and allowing him to give her his undivided attention. But he still wasn't sure if he'd ever believed that his nemesis would actually be strapped to the rocket when it went off.
It had been a mean trick… getting the platypus to help him set up the party, ignoring the glances that had warned him his teenage daughter probably wasn't going to be all that happy with his decoration scheme, and then trapping him, and tying him up to this thing after he'd done all that?
Why was this thing taking so long to explode? And why was he using his last few seconds feeling guilty for tricking his nemesis?
He let out the yell for what he expected to be the last time, "Curse you Perry the platy… hey? Is that Love Handle?" Huh, he hadn't even gotten to finish…
The rockets got louder, or so he thought until her felt the rope starting to give.
He looked up, and blinked in surprise as a platypus in a jet pack calmly cut the tiny strand of rope that had been ensuring his demise. The teal hand grabbed his wrist, and then they were hovering as the rocket continued on it's way.
His nemesis had saved him again. He stared up into the stoic face, looking for some sort of explanation. Who saves you when you get yourself caught in the exploding rocket you tied them too?
The platypus just shrugged, and glanced down with a calculating look.
Uh oh.
As the rocket exploded in the background, Perry the platypus let go of his wrist, and jet-packed off.
He plummeted, about ten feet or so, rolling to a stop on a pillow. Ha! Take that karma! He'd survived another one!
He got up, brushing off his ruined lab coat, and decided to enjoy the music for a while before he trudged back to the lab.
His daughter didn't show up until late, and that stung a bit, since she'd never once glanced his way while he was at the concert. "I'm fine, in case you were wondering."
She was smiling, and looking much happier than what he'd thought would be the last time he'd see her. "I knew you would be."
"And just how did you know that?"
She laughed. "You would have, too, if you'd seen Perry's face when he took off. He gave me a little smile, but it was that steel-eyed determination as he started the jet-pack that let me know you'd be just fine." She hugged him. "Thanks for the party, Dad. I know you put a lot of effort into it. Just… let me pick out the decorations next year?"
He held her, so happy to be here for this moment. "Whatever you say, baby girl."
A/N: It's very clear that something along these lines happed. Perry doesn't always go back to save Doof, but he doesn't get that look on his face when he takes off for a quiet evening at home, either.
Thanks for reading!
