Chapter 20: Fireworks

~random author's note~ CHAPTER 20 GUYS! WE MADE IT! WOOOOO!

When the evil scientist and platypus reached the apartment, Perry slid from Doofenshmirtz's shoulders down to the floor. He looked around the apartment, which hadn't even been decorated for the summer holiday. "Do you want some cake?" Doof called as he entered the kitchen. "It's for tonight but I don't think anyone will mind if you have a slice."

Perry jumped in to the kitchen, leaping out on the counter. He sat down with his feet hanging over the counter top, a position he usually sat in when he waited for offered food by Doof. He didn't usually get cake, and it was his birthday after all.

Doof gave him a slice of the vanilla cake with vanilla frosting. The platypus took it thankfully, starting to eat it.

"So why did you need a week off?" the scientist asked, almost desperate to get the answers from the platypus.

The agent looked up and shrugged.

"Well there's no point in putting you on vacation if you're just going to come here anyway!" the scientist said, rolling his eyes.

Perry scratched the back of his head, shrugging again. He couldn't stand another moment in that house anyway. No way was he going back.

Doof looked at him. The agent moved his gaze away, not making eye contact. Doof spoke up, "Why won't you look at me Perry the Platypus?"

Looking at Doof would mean recalling the memories of going to the other dimension. No way was he going to do that.

The platypus shrugged again. Doof groaned. "Whatever." The evil scientist started stuffing his face with the cake. Perry let out a chatter after swallowing a mouthful, gesturing to the room.

"Well, the party is going to be at Charlene's actually. There's no need for me to decorate, and I don't like getting my placed all dressed up for the holidays except for Christmas."

Perry looked up at the doctor, finishing off the rest of his cake. He flicked his eyes over to the door, smirking when Norm entered. "Sir! I brought muffins!"

"I don't want any muffins Norm!"

"But it's muffin time Sir!"

"You're broken!"

Perry smirked sadly, wiping at the tears. That was the exact exchange, word for word when Norm and Alternate Doof had argued with each other. Doof, noticing the platypus rubbing his eyes, looked down at his nemesis. A frown formed over the man's features. "Okay what is it Perry the Platypus? And don't lie to me, I know when someone is lying, now what's wrong?"

The platypus shook his head at his nemesis. He wasn't allowed to explain it anyway; there was no point in going in to detail. But Doof glared at him angrily, his nostrils flared and he snapped out, "Perry the Platypus will you just tell me the truth already? What is going on?"

With the same sad smile, Perry shook his head, reaching behind his back to take out a card. On it he wrote, "I'm a platypus. We don't get to talk."

Understanding the wording, Doof looked at him. "So you can talk?"

Perry rolled his eyes, pulling his knees up close to his chest, placing his chin on his knees. He felt Doof glare as the man grabbed Perry's face, holding it firmly with one large hand, kind of squishing Perry's cheeks together. He looked angry, like he was about to snap something at his nemesis, quick, witty and sharp, but he merely closed his eyes, shoved the platypus away and reached for his keys. "Whatever. Do you need a ride somewhere?"

Looking at the doctor uncertainly, Perry jumped down, pulling his hat lower over his head. He followed Doofenshmirtz out the door, feeling rotten. As he walked next to Doof he could feel the angry aura that the evil scientist seemed to give off. The platypus only looked at his nemesis once or twice as they walked to the car. Perry leaped in to the passenger side, pulling down the seatbelt to meet the buckle. He settled in to the chair, remembering last time he had been in this car. It happened years ago, seven years ago to be exact. It felt like an eternity ago, or had it only been a few seconds?

Time does fly.

The platypus directed with silent points in which way to go. Doof followed obediently, not speaking to him. Perry could read by the flush of his cheeks and the furrowing of his eyebrows that he remained angry with the monotreme next to him. Silence kept their tongues at bay.

"You're acting weird," Doof said stubbornly at last. "If you can't tell anyone what's going on, let alone your nemesis, what are you gonna do? Did something happen? Did someone in your family die?"

Doof had stopped at a red light. He shifted his eyes over to the platypus, who stared down at the ground before finally nodding. Almost instantly Doof's expression softened. "Who was it?" he asked.

Perry touched the rim of his hat for the sign boy, then moved it down across his left in a small D. Over the years the pair had learned a few signs to help them understand each other more. Doof's face showed sympathy. "Your brother? I'm sorry."

Both, Perry signed. Two brothers.

"You lost two brothers?"

Perry nodded weakly, putting his head in his hands. Doof reached over to pat the platypus gently. He sighed, "I'm sorry Perry the Platypus. I don't know what it's like to lose a brother. In all honesty I'd be rather grateful if my brother kicked the royal bucket."

The platypus smiled at him, moving his eyes back down. Phineas and Ferb's faces flickered in his mind like a movie reel of pictures.

"You just have to take it day by day," he said. "That's the only way you can ever move on. It'll take time, and it'll hurt, but you'll heal. Sometimes healing is more painful than getting the wound itself." Doof smirked, "Or so I've been told."

The scientist sighed. "I lost a son you know."

Perry's head snapped over at Doof. Since when?

"His name was Kid. No really. I had wanted to adopt him." Oh that, Perry's fur started to relax again. "But when I finally decided to, I found out that he had drowned in the river two weeks before. I never got to say good bye to him."

Perry smirked, reaching over to Doof to give him a couple gentle pats on his head. "Thank you Perry the Platypus." The evil scientist continued driving.

Perry sighed sadly, and made a stopping gesture to Doof as they turned in to a back alley. "Here?" Doof asked, looking over the alley. Pain lingered in the man's gaze. "You, you want me to drop you off here?"

The platypus looked around at the old alleyway. It was the same one he'd always lived in. What was wrong with it? He looked at Doof as if to say, Yeah so what?

Doof shrugged. "Okay. Bye Perry the Platypus. Happy Fourth!"

The platypus closed the car door, bolting in to the alley and jumping in a trash can. Immediately the supposed trash can transported him to the tree in his backyard. He slipped out of the exit, just in time for, "Oh there you are Perry, you almost missed burgers!"

A few hours later in the waning darkness, fireworks lit up the inky black sky. Kids oo'd and aaah'd at the spectacular colors. Perry's heart felt warmed as he was hugged by his boys tightly. There were still traces of his birthday cake on their face. The platypus snuggled deeper in to their hold, relaxing in his owners' hold.

"This is the best day ever," they said together, snuggling him closely.

Second best, the platypus thought.

Personally I thought this chapter was lame-o. (skims through* ugh its short too. I'm feeling a lack of action, which is ok, cuz action is coming up! (soon I hope)

im in the car driving to spokane as I type this (friday at dusk. The sun is just starting to go down but it isn't in full affect yet. So I guess it's . .. . sunset? who knows). Thanks to all of you who have prayed and wished me well on my journey to the washington apple state! olive garden tonight for dinner, which is awesome cuz we dont have one where I live (depressing I know). x3 beauty and the beast play tomorrow night, I can't wait to go!