Chapter Text
Direct Messages between Peter the Panda and Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz
Dr. D: Have you caught your assassin person yet?
Peter: Yep. Roger’s okay. After that whole debacle, he decided to go back to Danville. Agent Harriet the Hawk is watching over him, and he’s driving back with some human bodyguards as well. Perry and I are off the clock now.
Dr. D: Oh, that’s good. You didn’t fail your mission, and Monobrow’ll be happy. As happy as he ever is, at least.
Peter: And Roger’s okay.
Dr. D: Sure. That too. Not that I care. Not really. I mean, it’s not like I want him dead, but I wasn’t that concerned.
Peter: You can admit you were worried about your brother.
Dr. D: Fine. I was maybe just a little worried about him. Don’t tell Perry the Platypus that. How is Perry the Platypus anyway? He didn’t have to kill anybody, did he?
Dr. D: Peter the Panda, are you there?
Dr. D: Peter the Panda what are you not telling me?
Peter: Perry did end up having to use lethal force. I don’t know much about what happened, but I do know he really didn’t want to do it.
Dr. D: He’s okay, right?
Peter: Kind of. Here’s something I learned about Perry today: he is capable of killing when necessary because it is his job. However, as soon as he’s finished tying up any loose ends, he completely breaks down. We barely made it back to my place before he collapsed.
Dr. D: Oh no! Is he okay now?
Peter: He’s asleep, which I’m hoping is an improvement.
Dr. D: Why wouldn’t it be?
Peter: I’m not entirely sure if you can say someone’s okay if they only fell asleep when they were too physically exhausted to continue having a panic attack. Honestly, he was scaring me a bit. Not that it's his fault.
Dr. D: Definitely. I don't think I'd be able to do something like that.
Peter: Yeah. I’ve never had to actually kill someone before, and I hope I never will. At least Perry felt safe enough to let me help him through it.
Dr. D: Take care of him, Peter the Panda, all right?
Peter: Of course.
Direct Messages between Peter the Panda and Perry the Platypus
Peter: Perry, where are you, and are you okay?
Perry: I’m fine. Sorry, I just needed to be outside for a bit.
Peter: That’s fine. Do you want me to meet you somewhere?
Perry: Not really.
Peter: Okay. Do you want to talk about anything, or should I just leave you alone?
Perry: I don’t like doing that.
Peter: I know, buddy.
Perry: She was firing in an area with civilians. I tried to disarm her, but it was too dangerous.
Peter: Hey, you don't have to defend yourself. I know this was your only choice.
Perry: She was young. She might have only been four years older than Candace.
Peter: I know. It’s awful, and I wish she could have gotten help with whatever was going on in her life that drove her to do this. That doesn’t change the fact that I know you did what you had to.
Perry: I keep seeing her when I close my eyes, Peter.
Peter: Are you sure you're okay being alone right now? Because I’m legitimately worried about your safety.
Perry: I don’t know.
Peter: All right. Can you send me your coordinates? I'll come find you.
Perry: Thanks, Peter.
Direct Messages between Peter the Panda, Perry the Platypus, and Stacy Hirano
Stacy: Hey, are you guys okay? The assassination attempt is all over the news right now, and I think Ferb's pretty worried.
Peter: In terms of our mission, it could probably be considered a success. Roger's okay and back in Danville, Perry and I didn’t get hurt, and the assassin won't be able to try again.
Stacy: That’s because they were killed, right?
Direct Messages between Peter the Panda and Stacy Hirano
Peter: Okay. I think we’re going to need to establish some things.
Stacy: Why aren't we messaging with Perry?
Peter: What exactly is the news saying?
Stacy: Pretty much just that someone tried to kill the mayor, but they're dead now.
Peter: All right. Ferb knows this too?
Stacy: Yeah. There isn't anything about you and Perry, though, so he's a little anxious.
Peter: You can tell him we're okay. Also, it's probably best if the two of you don't bring up this mission to Perry if you can help it.
Stacy: Why? Is something wrong?
Peter: Yes, but you shouldn't worry about it. This is something Perry and I are working through together.
Stacy: Can you tell me anything?
Peter: No. That's for legal reasons and because Perry has made it absolutely clear that this is not information for you.
Stacy: Fine.
Peter: Perry'll probably come back tomorrow if you want to tell Ferb that.
Stacy: Are you two hanging out today?
Peter: You could say that. I have to fill out a report on our mission, but yeah, Perry's here too.
Stacy: All right. I'll tell Ferb you guys are okay.
Peter: Great. Thanks, Stace.
Direct Messages between Perry the Platypus and Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz
Dr. D: Perry the Platypus, how are you?
Perry: What did Peter tell you?
Dr. D: What, you think I can’t just ask how you are? I swear, I’m asking for perfectly normal reasons that are definitely unrelated to anything Peter the Panda may have said.
Perry: That’s a lie.
Dr. D: Okay, fine. Maybe Peter the Panda told me some stuff. And maybe that’s why I’m asking if you’re okay. But you can’t really blame me for being worried.
Perry: Do you think I’m a horrible person?
Dr. D: Of course not! You’re the best secret agent ever! And you’re my best friend! I could never think you’re a horrible person.
Perry: Are you sure?
Dr. D: Come on, Perry the Platypus. When have I ever been unsure about anything?
Perry: I guess.
Dr. D: You’re not going to believe me, are you? What does Peter the Panda say?
Perry: That it’s okay to need time to process things.
Dr. D: And?
Perry: That it’s not my fault.
Dr. D: Exactly! You should listen to him. And me. Listen to both of us.
Perry: It’s not that easy.
Dr. D: I know, but let me tell you, when I started listening to the people in my life who care about me, my mental health got so much better. Seriously.
Perry: I’m trying. I promise.
Dr. D: Good. Because you’re an amazing person, and we’re going to keep telling you that until you believe it.
Direct Messages between Peter the Panda and Ferb Fletcher
Ferb: I know Stacy said you and Perry were okay, but did something really bad happen?
Peter: Before I answer that, can you tell me why this is an urgent enough question that you needed to ask it in the middle of the night?
Ferb: I think Perry’s having a nightmare.
Peter: Okay. Yeah, all right, something bad happened.
Ferb: I suppose you don’t want to tell me what it was?
Peter: Nope. Do you think you can just do your best to help Perry? I could message him, but I don’t know if that would help right now. He really responds best to physical touch.
Ferb: All right.
Peter: Great. Also, part of the reason why I’m not telling you what happened is that Perry really doesn’t want to talk about it. Keep that in mind.
Ferb: I won’t ask him anything.
Peter: Awesome. Thanks, Ferb.
Ferb: Of course. I’m going to take care of Perry now.
Peter: Sounds good.
Direct Messages between Perry the Platypus and Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz
Perry: Dr. D, I might be a little late to class today.
Dr. D: I’m not doing anything crazy, Perry the Platypus. You don’t need to come if you don’t want to.
Perry: No, I need to do something with myself. I’ll be there.
Dr. D: If you’re sure.
Perry: Positive. I’m doing better, I promise.
Dr. D: Well, that’s good to hear. Just tell me if you need anything.
Perry: I will.
Direct Messages between Peter the Panda and Perry the Platypus
Peter: Okay, I’m doing a wellness check. You don’t need to tell me anything you don’t want to, but I’d really appreciate knowing how worried I should be.
Perry: You don’t need to be worried at all. I’m doing okay. Training made me really good at compartmentalizing.
Peter: I’m not sure if that’s something to be happy about.
Perry: Hey, I’ve talked to you a bit. That’s good right?
Peter: Is there any way I could convince you to try to find a therapist who has actual training? It’s not that I can’t keep helping you with stuff, but I have absolutely no qualifications.
Perry: You know as well as I do that O.W.C.A. would never allow that. Besides, as far as I know, there aren’t any therapists who work with animals.
Peter: I just wish there was a better solution.
Perry: Really, I’m fine.
Peter: Ferb told me you had a nightmare last night.
Perry: That’s true, but like I said, I’m good. All the bad stuff is hidden where it won’t bother me as much.
Peter: You know what, there’s no point in me pushing this, is there?
Perry: No. Actually, I had something else I wanted to tell you about.
Peter: What?
Perry: While we were eating lunch, Roger called. Apparently, he ‘just wanted to see how Dr. D was doing.’
Peter: How did that go down?
Perry: Well, Dr. D kept saying how annoyed he was, but he still talked for ages. I think something must have happened between them.
Peter: I know what it was. While we were hiding, I told Roger I knew his brother and let him use my phone to message him. Dr. D was genuinely worried about Roger, by the way.
Perry: That checks out. I don’t want to jinx it, but they might actually be patching some of their relationship problems up.
Peter: That’s cool. Having a healthier relationship could help both of them. Roger’s not necessarily bad. Maybe Dr. D could be a good influence on him.
Perry: I never thought I’d hear that sentence in my life.
Peter: I’m not wrong, though.
Perry: No, you’re right.
Peter: Don’t think I didn’t notice you changing the subject, by the way.
Perry: Figures. Seriously, I don’t want to talk about it anymore. It’s for the best to try to move on, right?
Peter: I know. I know. Just please let me know if something happens and you do need to talk.
Perry: Hey, give me some credit. We’ve been friends long enough for me to remember that much.
Peter: Good.
Perry: I think I need to go now. Candace just got home, and I don’t think she had a great day. She looks like she could use someone mindless to talk to.
Peter: Fine. I’ll ignore the irony in that. Talk to you later, Perry.