This takes place way later in the timeline, but the next chronological story ain't eone yet so you get this one early in its place!
Brock woke up to the sound of a blood-curdling scream. But when he turned around, he noticed that Grandmaster Frown was only half awake and looked more annoyed than anything else.
"Not again," Frown groaned. But Brock hadn't heard a scream like that before. How wasn't this new to his boyfriend? He yawned, rushing out of bed.
"I've got it," Brock assured Grandmaster Frown, pretending it was old news to him too. He followed the similar whimpering sounds to Puppycorn's bedroom, welcomed by his puppy co-worker shaking like a rattle in bed.
"Are you ok, Master Pain?" Brock asked, hurrying closer.
"I...I had a nightmare," Puppycorn sniffled as more fresh droplets formed in his eyes.
Brock sat down next to him. "Really? What was it about?"
"I-it's been the same one all week. My big sis, Grandmaster Frown, even you...everyone wasn't moving a-and I had to take care of the kingdom all by myself! But I was scared, and the citizens didn't like me so they..." Puppycorn started breaking down again before he could finish.
"Oh God, that's terrible!" Brock sighed empathetically, "I wish I knew about this sooner!"
Puppycorn sniffed again, getting pouty. "Well why do you care? Aren't nightmares and making people scared your whole thing or something?"
"What, that means I can't want my co-workers to have a good night's sleep?" Brock giggled.
"Yeah, I guess," Puppycorn grumbled, letting Brock carry him into his lap and pet him.
"Recurring dreams like that are the worst kinds," Brock explained, "That's why I use them to remind people of their biggest insecurities. So I'm sensing something like that going on here."
"Well yeah, I don't wanna be the only Doom Lord left one day! What am I gonna do if something goes wrong and you can’t save yourselves!?"
"Aww, I think you're letting these nightmares get the best of you, bud." Brock grinned and raised an eyebrow as the other lowered. "Besides, who's the one usually getting us into trouble anyway??"
He nudged his hand atop Puppycorn's fur, getting Puppycorn to laugh with him for a few seconds until Puppycorn sulked again.
"Be honest with me, Master Fear," he sighed, "Do the others hate me?"
"Of course not!" Brock replied, "Sure, you might annoy us sometimes, but that doesn't mean we don't care about you. You're just as important to the team as the rest of us, and I don't want you to ever forget that."
"O-ok," Puppycorn said, "I'll try."
"Good," Brock replied, standing back up and tucking Puppycorn in.
"'Cause if there's one member we'd never want to lose, it's the cute lil' guy with his whole future ahead of him!" He rubbed behind the ticklish Puppycorn's ear before walking away.
"And if you ever feel like this again, just come to me," he said, stopping at the doorway, "Now try and get some more sleep, alright?"
Puppycorn nodded and hummed. As he closed his eyes and easily fell back asleep, his tender smile stayed on his face, making Brock's own smile wider.
