Chapter Text
FILE 1: Midnight Snack Attack
The Icy Gravekeeper, cladded in a midnight blue with white snowflake themed pyjamas, climbed in bed next to a smaller droid that looked like a child or at least a tween. The young Gravekeeper wore a pair of camouflage pyjamas, had shaggy brown hair and was fast asleep. In the doorway to the bedroom, a rather large, yet muscular Gravekeeper with a large reptile-like tail and a more beastly appearance stood and watched the two cuddled together. He wore a pair of pyjama trousers that had blue flames on the legs with a sleeveless, dark grey and purple tank top that showed off his abs.
“Well, time to get some shut eye!” The larger one with a tail called out as he walked in and climbed in the bed. His tail flopped softly on the smaller Gravekeeper to keep him warm as the female glared at him with a drowsy look.
“Dacite…” she said in a soft tone. “Keep your tail in check, even if Brigade cuddles it. Last time, you hit me with it following a dream you had.”
“Sorry love” the larger Gravekeeper, Dacite answered in a strong Australian accent as he rubbed the side of his head and gave a soft laugh. He slowly pulled his tail off Brigade and kept it on his side for the time being. Dacite pulled the covers onto himself getting comfortable.
“Also, Dac…No midnight snacking. Every time you do that, you crash and burn until the noon comes” she added. The Icy Gravekeeper, Hail, smiled and waved her finger.
“I ‘member, Hail, my lady…” Dacite answered back while giving a soft, wheezy laugh.
“Good. Now, let’s try to sleep. Brig’s already asleep, now it is our turn.”
After the other two drifted off to sleep, it wasn’t long until a noisy growl was heard. Brigade was deep asleep as was Hail. Dacite looked down and felt his stomach rumbling once again.
“Bloody hell…” he whispered to himself, begging that the sound wouldn’t wake up either Brigade or Hail.
Dacite slowly sat up and waved his tail as he rubbed his stomach.
“I knew this would happen. Guess I should tame the tummy and come back here…before they find out o’course.”
With that, Dacite quietly got out of bed and snuck out of the bedroom towards the kitchen. He reached the kitchen and rummaged the cupboards grabbing a variety of snacks going against Hail’s wishes. With an arm full of various snacks, Dacite sat himself at the table and dug right in to his midnight snack.
It wasn’t long until all of the snacks were completely devoured. Empty snack backs, curry bowls and wrappers littered the floor and table. Dacite smiled finally satisfying is insatiable desire to cheat on his diet. It wasn’t long before he yawned and crashed into a slumber, his tail slowly waving beside him. A sleep bubble rose from his nostrils as he snored loudly on the floor.
Meanwhile…
Brigade woke up startled. He was a bit drowsy and rubbed his optics. The boy looked over at Hail who was fast asleep. Something didn’t feel right. There was no “warm” or comfy tail blanket around him like he was used to. The boy looked to his other side and noticed Dacite missing from the bed. Rather than waking up Hail, he figured it would be best for him to investigate. Brigade climbed out of bed, yawned and silently made his way down the halls looking in the open rooms. Ever since Dacite was forced to be put on a diet, this had become a consistent thing each night. And of course…to no one’s surprise, when Brigade walked into the kitchen low and behold the great lizard lay on the floor, snoring loudly.
Brigade folded his arms as he stood beside daddy dearest. It never failed. Ever since the diet, It 2 was always the same with either Vespa or Autochrome discovering Dacite in the morning completely crashed out from a snack-induced food coma. This usually led to Ace ranting about how his castella was always missing from the fridge. Brigade snickered to himself having finally caught his dad in the act. The boy cupped his hands towards his mouth cleared his throat and…
“CAPTAIN DAD!” he shouted. “I CAUGHT YA! MOMMA IS GONNA BE SO ANGRY!”
Despite the noise, there was no response from lizard dad outside of loud snores, a stomach rub and a wagging tail. There had to be a way to get his dad’s attention. Brigade had to think of something quickly. He then had a brilliant idea. Brigade quickly walked over to Dacite’s tail, picked it up and chomped on it.
In what was once a brief moment of silence, came forth the sound of bloody murder as the great lizard-borg shout out a large yelp of pain. Dacite shot up and held his tail, softly rubbing it. Looking over at what happened, he glared at Brigade who was whistling while innocently looking away.
“Brig! What are you…” he started. But it wasn’t long before the sounds of footsteps could be heard rushing towards the kitchen.
The lights in the kitchen turned on as a rather sleepy Vespa dragged herself in along with her brother Autochrome who was hugging his pillow and struggling to stay awake. This was quickly followed by Ace in his yukata and last, but not least, mother dearest, Hail. Brigade placed his hands behind his head and stood near the icy Gravekeeper. Dacite let go of his tail as it went between his legs, much like a dog did when it was scared or in trouble. He gave a nervous laugh and rubbed the back of his head.
“YOU! ” Vespa growled. “You woke me and my brother up!” she shouted.
Vespa glanced over at Autochrome who was now fast asleep standing up. She quickly elbowed him in the gut causing him to quickly jump awake, his eyes half open while he squeezed his pillow.
“Y...yeah..woke...up..” he drowsily slurred.
Dacite pointed to Brigade with his claw as the small soldier withheld a small laugh.
“He bit my tail!” Dacite said.
Ace walked over to the table and inspected it. He picked up some of the wrappers littered on the floor.
“You have a bit of rubbish on the floor. Well, not a bit, but let’s say a rather large mess, Dac.” Ace calmly said.
“I’m at least glad you did not find my castella this time. I had to hide it away after last time you got your paws on them!”
“What rubbish?” the reptile man asked. “I see nothin’!” he tried to protest.
Hail folded her arms and huffed. She walked over to Dacite and poked him in the belly.
“Someone’s been snacking again. This is getting out of hand Dacite. Your bad habits have now gotten to the point where it has disturbed the whole household!” she said.
Vespa kept glaring at Dacite as Autochrome once again fell asleep standing up. Ace gathered Dacite’s mess, placed it in the bin and went back to his room. Vespa scoffed as she grabbed her sleepy brother by the shirt collar and dragged him out leaving only Brigade, Hail and Dacite alone in the kitchen. Dacite’s tail drooped down as he poked his two index claws together.
“I..c-can explain!” He nervously crowed. That was when his belly gave a sickly rumble. He gently grasped it. “Dammmit… bugga…” He muttered.
Brigade crossed his arms and closed his eyes, much like Hail would when she was scolding the both of them. “See, Dad? You got yourself a bellyache!”
His tail was stiff now as he looked the other way.
“Don’t rub it in, Brig…”
Hail sighed and then laughed softly. She gently held the fiery one’s claws and poked his chest.
“The diet hasn’t been easy, but it’s been necessary because of your bellyaches. I know it’s hard, but you have to do it. Look, it’s late let’s go back to sleep and this time, you STAY in bed. You can stay in it all day if you wish.”
Dacite grumbled as he rubbed his stomach again. He looked at the other two as he felt Brigade hold his tail.
“Not gonna let ya go until you get back there! Hop to it, Captain Dad!”
“Y-Yes SIR!”
Back in the bedroom, Brigade, Hail and Dacite were all in bed. Dacite whimpered like a wounded animal as he kept his hand on his gut. He felt Brigade hold his tail close as Hail was fast asleep.
“Next time, I will ignore my gut and just sleep it off…” he said to himself.
Before getting comfortable, he felt the covers being yanked off his body. Dacite looked over his shoulder and saw Brigade was wrapped up like a burrito, or would you call it a “Brigadito”?
Sighing softly, Dacite curled his tail around himself and fell asleep trying his best to ignore the stomach aches. He knew deep down that the diet was necessary for him, but the temptation every night was too much. However, the pain he felt as a result of breaking the rules was almost not worth it.
“Alright…no more snacking…” he thought to himself vowing that there would no longer be anymore midnight snacks. Or…will there?
END