"Okay, okay, you convinced me," Heinz says as Perry unlocks the door of their apartment in Doofenshmirtz Evil, Incorporated. "Everything I did with dimensional science was worth writing up."
Perry smiles. Did I convince you, or did- he gestures at the flat, square box in Heinz's hands -that convince you?
Heinz walks into the apartment and sets the box on the kitchen table. "Both, really. But you helped me recognize it first, so you get the credit."
Perry laughs, shutting the door behind them. After so many late nights, so many conversations, and so much convincing, Heinz has finally gotten the recognition he truly deserves.
"Never thought I'd get this, though," Heinz says with a gesture at the box. "I mean, you really have to discover something big to win an award like that."
Perry nods. That's completely true. It's not just any discovery that wins a Newton Award. Watching Heinz's face light up when he got that call- the one telling him he'd been nominated- was certainly something. And then tonight, when he won it, well. If Perry hadn't been in love already, seeing that smile would have made him fall.
Which is just additional proof for my point.
"I suppose you're right. Still. You were the one that convinced me to write everything down."
And so much more on top of that. Even to convince Heinz that his dimension-inator was more than just another failure of a backfired -inator took a lot of work. But major scientific breakthroughs like that don't happen every day, do they?
That was the hard part. After that, it was just a matter of making sure Heinz knew that the main difference between screwing around and science is writing things down.
"Don't think this means I've forgotten about this, though," Heinz says, tugging at his bowtie. "Feels like I was being choked all night."
A necessary evil, Perry signs, well accustomed to the torture that bowties are. Besides, you're very handsome when you dress up nice.
Perry takes pride in the way Heinz's cheeks flush at the compliment. Even after nearly three years of being together, they're still just as madly-in-love as the day they were on their first date. As it turned out, their dimensional adventure had produced more than just scientific intrigue- it also sparked the beginning of their relationship.
A couple months later saw Heinz giving up evil, instead focusing his inventions more on actually solving some of his petty grievances, and making Danville a better place. (Although his inventions aren't entirely philanthropic- he has suspiciously good luck when it comes to getting green lights.)
After about a year, Perry moved in with Heinz, and they've been happy ever since. Sure, there have been ups and downs like any relationship, but it's honestly been some of the best years of his life.
There's a reason he's got a ring tucked in the back of his bedside table's drawer. All he needs is an opportunity.
"Yes, well," Heinz says, snapping Perry back to the present, "don't get too used to it. Lab coats are much more comfortable. As you know."
Perry laughs a bit. He does have the habit of wearing Heinz's lab coats when he's up all night doing paperwork (which is unfortunately far too common an occurrence). And they are much more comfortable than a suit, that's for sure.
Now that Heinz has set down his box (containing one very fragile award), Perry picks Heinz up and spins him around in a gentle circle. When he sets Heinz down, his boyfriend follows to kiss him softly.
Perry melts into the embrace, the gentle intimacy soothing after a hectic day.
"I love you," Heinz whispers when they part, and Perry smiles. Pressed up together, it's a little awkward to sign, so he gently taps Heinz's back three times. One two three, the easiest way to say I love you when you can't speak.
From upstairs in the lab, something crashes to the floor, shattering into a million pieces from the sound of it.
They both freeze for a split-second, eyes going wide. Perry reacts on instinct, throwing his fedora on and running up the steps to the lab. He reaches up and flicks on the lights, blinking a bit against the sudden brightness.
Then what he sees makes him blink more, although this time it's in disbelief.
There are four beings standing in the lab.
More specifically, a teal platypus and three more versions of him. One whose body is about half metal, one who's holding what looks suspiciously like half of an -inator, and one wearing a face mask.
...Didn't they go through this three years ago?
Footsteps sound on the stairs behind Perry. "Is everything oka-" Heinz says, stopping short when he sees the other Perrys. "Oh crap."