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You opened the giant doors of the daycare, a smile already splattered on your face, arms open already waiting for a certain someone.
Not a moment later you were scooped from the floor.
"SUNFLOWER!" Sunny said excited while spinning with you. "Oh! I've missed you so so so SO much!"
You giggled at him "Sunny Bunny, I barely left for 6 hours. I spent more time here that at my apartment"
"I know! Still!" He whined "Did you miss me too?" He pulled back a little so he could see you. Smiling wider you place your hand on his face which Sun immediately snuzzled, his faceplate getting a tad warmer.
"Yes, I miss you both so so SO much!" He giggled quietly as you gave him a small peck on his forehead. "Now! How about we get the daycare really for the little ones?"
He twirled you a while while agreeing and saying all the stuff prepared for today. You both had everything done with thirty minutes to spare. You sat on the floor eating breakfast while Sunny did a handstand so his face was just at your level.
“I have a surprise for you both” You saw him about to explode with excitement “But! You have to wait until the end of the day”
His rays wilted, “Mean mean mean sunflower! You know I can’t wait! ¡Come on!” He twists his body to sit criss cross in front of you and pouts. You laugh at his antics.
He was about to say something when a giggle and a crash in the ball pit alerted you both that a day finally started.
“Sorry Sunnypop” You said, kissing his cheek before quickly standing up to say hi to the children.
Hours later the lights began to dim announcing nap time, you smiled at the whirring and clicking sound of the robot a few feet away from you. Turning towards him you jump before wrapping your arms around the torso of the tall robot.
"Moony! Moon pie! God I've missed you so much!" You knew you couldn't yell, so you whispered excitedly before looking up at him. His arms wrap around you loosely, the both of you quietly setting the kids in their respective blankets.
Moon leaned back against the daycare wall as you walked away towards a whimpering child, cooing sweet nothings as you tucked them in.
"Come on, just knock and ask for them, they're supposed to be on break" a voice outside said whispering. Moon turned to look towards the window, it was dark enough that you couldn't see but he could perfectly.
He wanted to get up and kick them out before they woke someone up but the words peaked his interest.
They were looking for you?
"Stop dragging me!" A man hissed quietly, he looked about your age if not a couple years older, wearing a El Chips shirt, the other men had his arms on his shoulder pushing him even forward. "They’re going to say no!"
"Come on! Who knows, Y/N is sweet, and I know you like them! Besides they’re always with that freak robot, they need to hang around with a real dude!"
Moon could feel his body overheating. Freak . He quickly glanced at you, kneeling in front of a girl that grabbed your arm as she told you something.
"Exactly!" Moon turned towards them again. "They don’t hang out with anybody. They're super nice dude, but have you ever seen them say 'yes' to something? No party's, no friendly hangouts, not even a movie! The only time I have ever seen them say yes is when management asked if they could stay for a few more hours!"
His friend rolled his eyes "Yeah, but..."
"Moony are you alright?" Moon snapped at your voice. You were standing in front of him, eyes moving towards the direction he was looking moment's ago before slightly smiling. "Is everything ok?"
Moon turned to see nobody standing where the employees were moments ago. He gave you a slight nod before you threw yourself at him, arms wrapping around his neck.
"You're warmer than usual? Are you sure you're ok?" You whispered quietly on his neck making him almost shudder.
Freak. That was the only thing Moon could think over and over again.
After a long day you finally finished cleaning the daycare with Sunny, the both of you singing some songs together.
“Come on Sunflower, can you tell meeee?” Sunny whined, he’s been sulking for the last 10 minute since you said you wanted to tell Moon first.
“Honeysuckle, I told you! I want to tell Moon! I don’t know why but I feel something happened during nap time. He didn’t tell me what it was but I know something’s not right. I know I’m not supposed to be asking you, but did you…?” You let the question hang, implying if he saw something, but Sun shook his head no.
“I’m sorry Y/N, I wasn’t active today, I needed to recharge a little, I wish I could tell you something” Sun rays wilted before snapping back up again “But I’m sure the surprise will cheer him up right away!”
You smiled and hugged him before going to the lights, “Thank you Sunny! See you in a bit!”
The lights went down, leaving only some nightlights and the light from the entrance of the daycare, leaving you with a good enough light to see”
Moon was standing where Sun was but his back turned to you. Smiling, you picked up your bag before going towards him.
“Moony Moon! I got you a surprise! Well you and Sunny, but I wanted to tell you first!” He remains quiet but you see his finger tapping his thigh, going faster the more you talk. You ignored keeping the tone cheerful.
“I brought some movies! Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Machine for Sunny and A Roman Holiday for you! ” You said excitedly, rummaging inside your bag “I thought we could have a sleepover, maybe go to play some games later and have a little party, just us three!”
Moon growled at your cheery tone. Finally snapping.
"How many times have I told you to leave me alone!" His voice rises startling you, making you drop your bag. You've only seen him yell a couple times before "You're always being a f~|@#$ bother! Can't you understand I don't want you near me, never have! Just because Sun lets you, doesn't mean that I like you!"
You took a step back, his words resonating in your head, the tightness in your chest making you feel like drowning, you couldn't even hear the daycare music in the background anymore.
"Oh..." Was the only word that came out of you, ashamed. Stupid, God so stupid and bothersome . "I....I am sorry Moony. I didn't know you felt like that" You finally looked up at him, his angry snarl dropping, eyes following the tears on your cheeks.
You smiled at him, the sweetest smile you could muster "I-I understand, I'm sorry for not understanding before" You grabbed your bag from the floor before walking towards the wooden door. You turned to look at him one final time. "Goodnight, Moonlight"
Moon stood there for hours, Sun screaming at him.
What the FUCK is wrong with you?!
He flinched at the insult, Sun rarely used curses, the filter not working since it’s not being said out loud.
´You made them cry. They have never done anything besides being good to us Moon. Why would you say that to them, I know how you feel, why would you ever push them away?!´
He snarled at Sun, cutting the connection without much of a word. Only darkness surrounded him for the rest of the night.
You came back the next shift, smiling at Sun before he came crashing at you, babbling and apologizing about Moon's behavior. He saw your face crumble a little, telling him that you were okay.
You weren't.
By the time the lights were dimming, Moon sat crisscrossed at his usual spot. Once everyone was finally asleep he closed his eyes and waited.
And waited.
He knew you would toppled on top of him before giving him a hug and touching him as much as you could. He saw how you acted with Sun, probably already forgotten about what he said.
Feets were moving towards him and he knew it was you, his body already waiting for the feeling of your weight on him.
"Hey, Moon" You said softly and his eyes shot open. Moon, not Moony or Moon Pie or Moonlight or the thousands of names you've given him.
Not even on your first day you call him Moon. For the entire day you thought it was Moondrop and he found it so funny he didn't correct you. He remembers how red your cheeks became when some kid finally corrected you.
His eyes found you and noticed how you were a foot away, your hands fidgeting as you looked at the floor.
After a few seconds of him not responding, your face grimaced a little. Still, you cleared your throat and talked again.
"Erm, the kids are asleep. I'm going to take my break now, so I will return once the light turns back on" You inform him and without waiting for an answer you turn and left.
Even if he couldn't actually feel the temperature, the daycare became colder for him. You always took your breaks inside the daycare, usually just to spend the time with him, telling what you made for lunch that day and the last episode of your favorite show.
´She's just doing what you told them, Moon, isn't this what you wanted? To be left alone? ´
Sun asked, his tone still resentful.
No , he thought.
The rest of the week was the same, you showed up in the morning, prepared the daycare with Sun before it opened and only stayed a few minutes on nap time to make sure that all the kids were asleep and cuddle up in their blankets before sneaking away.
It was killing him, he was actually starting to feel his wires hurt inside of him, as he was burning. On the third day he called somebody from parts and service thinking he was actually in danger, but they told him they didn't find anything wrong with him.
Then why did he want to claw inside his chest and rip everything inside of him?
The only thing stopping him to do that was the fact that it would hurt Sun and he didn't want that.
He became more quiet as well, during the daytime he used to nagg Sun, making comments and jokes to annoy him and make him laugh. Now he could only stay quiet as it was the only time he could hear your voice again.
It broke him to notice little things Sun didn't seem to catch on. You weren't smiling as bright as before, eyes tired, sometimes puffy and red after your break. Sun would even catch you falling asleep on the arts and craft table by the end of the day. Moon never thought that those moments where you slept on his shoulder were that important.
-
Sun turned at the sound of your gasp. You were sitting at the arts and crafts table, a little girl next to you as she held the paper towards you, you slowly clapped as your face lit up.
"That's an amazing drawing of Sunny, Lucy!" The girl smiled widened at your reaction, "How about you make one for Mr. Moon as well? That way, you can give a drawing to each one!" You inquired, Lucy nodding excitedly as you gave her another piece of paper. Some of the kids started to draw them as well.
Sun felt Moon's feelings overloading him. Why, why did you still do that.
Even after what he told you, you still tried to help him with the kids to be equal with him and Sun. He remembers the first time you noticed all the gifts Sun would get while he was left empty handed. You came back the next day with dark circles under your eyes and a bag filled with drawings you made of him, even making a little teddy bear, eyes crooked with a little night cap like his on one ear.
He remembers that you tried to take it from him embarrassed, your hands covered in band-aids. The bear still stands on his side of their room, it was the first time he felt a tightness in his chest.
I ruined it
I RUINED IT
I CAN'T
I CAN'T
“Calm down! You’re overloading our system!” Sunny yelled in his mind, yet he received no answer from Moon as he kept murmuring inside their mind paying no mind to Sun. Moon? MOON!
He didn’t notice that you were approaching him, your brow furrowed with concern. When he felt a hand graze his arms he instinctively shook it off, taking a step back. Your face turned even more worried, slowly lowering your arm.
“Sunshine, are you ok?” You asked softly, trying again to move near him, but everything around him felt like too much. Pain. So much pain. “Moon, is this what you're feeling?”
He took a few step backs before sprinting towards his tower, the cable coming towards his back and lifting him up.
You stood there in shock, a few kids coming towards you to ask if Mr. Sun was ok. You pushed a smile in your face, telling them that Mr. Sun was taking a little nap. You soon went back to playing with the kids, a lump in your throat every time you glance up.
-
It was closing time and you were helping Sunny clean up, you turn to look at him hum the daycare tune while staking some foam blocks in a certain order.
He didn’t give you an explanation about what happened a few hours ago, he just came down like nothing happened, ignoring your worried stares.
Biting the inside of your mouth, you decided to ask the question that's been nagging inside your mind for a while.
You were scared of the answer, terrified, even.
"Hey Sunny?" You called, voice wavering a little. You knew he turned to look at you but you decided to keep your eyes on the table you were cleaning.
"Yes, Sunflower?" He happily chirped.
"Can I ask you a question? And...would you tell me the truth" You noticed your hands shaking, but you kept scrubbing the marker stains.
"But of course! You know I can't lie silly!" He could lie, but it didn't mean he liked to do it.
"Am I....bothering you?" Your voice trembles a little and you could feel tears burning in your eyes.
"W-What?" Sun answered confused but you kept going.
"I just," You stop cleaning as you puke your feelings. "I know sometimes I can be a lot, and that I pushed to be with you guys more than I should, and I-I j-just. Moon was honest, a-and he was right, but I know you're too sweet to say anything, and I can't live knowing that I'm making you uncomfortable in any way" Tears were coming out, your voice wavering. "I didn't mean to cling to you guys that much, If I had known...I'm sorry, I'm so sorry"
You felt stupid, like a child that couldn't stop crying,
The feeling of a hand on your cheek made you gasp before looking at him. Sun was unusually quiet, and you didn't take it as a good sign. It felt like a confirmation.
Still, the warmth in his hand calms you down enough to talk again. "Did you know I used to go outside at night just to look at the Moon?" Your voice was calm and barely above a whisper, "I was very lonely growing up, so at nights I used to just walk around for a while, thinking 'Why?' What's so wrong with me that nobody wanted to be near me, but then I realized somebody did" You smiled a little, remembering "Up there, in the sky, the Moon was always with me. I tried to memorize every crater that I could. All I could think was that maybe it was lonely too, every night up there. Maybe it wasn't only keeping me company, maybe I was there for it too."
"I never thought I would find something more beautiful than the moon. It wasn't until I meet you guys that I knew I was wrong" You cursed inward at your stupid mouth. You tried to stand up, ashamed for the last quote, bothering again. You pushed yourself up as fast as possible "I'm sorry, I'm doing it again, I'm-m just gonna go"
Hands enveloped you before you could even move, crushing you to a warm metallic chest. You could feel him shake, vibrate with such intensity that you began to worry.
"SSStarlight" Moon's voice cracked, shocking you, you tried to push away muttering apologies, but Sun's hands grabbed you even harder.
Wait, Sun's?
Suddenly you were lifted off the ground, a hand traveling from your back towards your knees to support you. He was moving with difficulty, but before you could ask everything went dark.
His arm on your legs fell, making you stumble to the ground, you notice his other hand was in the light which.
You were about to open your mouth before you felt your lips crushing into yours. Eyes wide and adjusted to the dark you could see Moon face filled with oily dark tears, his hands grabbing you desperately like he was about to crumble.
"SSStarlight, I love you, I love you, I'm sorry"
Your eyes burned as tears ran down without any notice, shaking as he crushed you in a hug, your face in the crook of his neck.
"Moon what-" He pushed you even closer, his hands trembling as he didn't know what to do.
"Please, just, I’m sorry.“ He took a shaky breath, like he actually needed it. ”I thought that if I let you go maybe you could be happier. Starlight, I’m nothing more than a freak, wires and metal. I can’t give you want you truly need“
You pushed him, furrowing your brow in hurt and anger. “And who gets to decide what I need?” Moon opened his mouth to talk but you interrupted him. “Neither you or Sunny are just wires and metal. I have never met people more alive than both of you” You laugh as it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“I can see how happy you are every time a child comes to you during nap time. I can still remember every joke Sunny had said to me that made me almost puke from laughter. I can see that both of you enjoy every time we have quiet conversations at the end of the night” You stopped for a second “Or well, I thought you guys did. Moon, even if you don't want to be near me, I will never think less of you, hell! That makes you even more human! More alive!”
“But I do want to be with you!” He interrupted desperately, “I want to hug you every time you smile, to kiss you when you look at me like I really matter, sometimes I don’t want to even share you with Sun -I know! You love them too! ” You hiccup a laugh knowing that Sun probably said something.
He looks at you softly, his hands softly caressing your tear stained cheeks. “I don’t want to be the person to make you cry, I -” You crushed your lips against him, feeling his hands push you closer to him as he deepened it.
He whines when you move to breathe, pressing your forehead with his before smiling. “Then don’t be, be the person that can love me only like the Moon can”
You could feel his body turn warmer as his fans turned full blast, making it seem almost like he was purring .
“I will”