Chapter Text
You were a mess.
Moon saw it.
You perhaps thought no one did but you were wrong. You forgot that the Naptime Attendant had access to the cameras, and unlike the other security guards, he actually checked them.
Well... Normally, he wouldn't be checking them while the daycare was open and Sun was working but... They had been worried, about you. You looked down today but why? They weren't sure.
They asked of course, half jokingly, but you never answered them with the truth. They didn't want to push you, make you uncomfortable. They could only show that they cared and they were here for you, and hope that you would come to them.
(Who were they lying at? They were scared too. They were scared that you would get angry at them for pushing your boundaries. Remind them they were nothing but machines, remind them that you didn't need them.)
They wished that you could accept help.
You never let them know, never let them care, never let them spoil you really. Even with the simple compliments they wished to give you, you laughed it off. Saying that they were cheesy and funny.
Clearly not believing them. Sometimes it would still work on making your face take a slightly deeper shade, only for their eyes to see and notice.
They never commented on it.
They didn't want to make you uncomfortable.
They were scared.
Normally, Moon would just chat with Sun or sit back and watch everything from the backseat he was in. Or just rest in general. But his attention was on you today, they knew, you were out of it recently. You sometimes dropped the little hints.
The dizzyness for example that would come out of nowhere. You would giggle, hold your head in a small stumble. Not even noticing their worried gaze. Just joking about your silly human body.
Your lower lip would tremble just slightly sometimes when you were watching the kids. Watching them laugh and be themselves. Your eyes would hold that longing look.
You would... make those repetitive small patterns more often. Fingers, or your pen, tapping on the desk, your leg skipping restless.
Or some simple habits. Like you mindlessly scratching at your wrists or neck. Or just pulling the strands of your hair. They noticed it as you weren't even aware of it that you did them. Whenever those would happen, they would pull your hands away with a dumb excuse and you would let them. Not understanding the real reason behind why they actually held your hand in that moment.
First, they hadn't even noticed you leaving. You were silent on your feet. You had talked about it before, like how you were that quiet kid that got into trouble without anyone knowing. You would be right next to them without them noticing, or suddenly gone.
And when Moon checked the cameras to find you, it wasn’t particularly hard. He didn’t have a heart but he felt something hurting when he found you. Squeezing. You looked like you were hyperventilating in a corridor that was leading to the restrooms. Holding your chest, trying to control your breathing as you leaned to the wall beside you to not fall. You weren’t in hurry, knowing that people didn’t really use the area you were in.
He couldn’t do anything. They couldn’t do anything. They had kids to take care of and he hated it— Not the kids but…
How stupid, again. Everything they do was controlled, they really were just some property. They were here to babysit the kids and nothing more.
They had no life but a purpose to fulfill. Obey the orders. No free choice.
You made them feel alive, like they were actually in control. Like their life was theirs.
…But, they couldn’t be there for you at the moment and it hurt so much.
Sun noticed his counterpart being so quiet, checking in on him. First, Moon was reluctant to tell him, not wanting to worry Sun, distract him from his job. But Sun was always a stubborn one—
He froze when the live camera footage appeared in front of him. The kids didn’t notice it at first, but after a few seconds when Sun didn’t give any reaction to them, they got worried.
Sun’s hands trembled, fingers twitching. You were struggling to breathe properly, tears falling down. You looked so broken.
He wanted to hug you, help you, soothe you, be there for you—
“Mr. Sun!”
They couldn’t.
(You were from different worlds.)
You took another hour to come back, silently getting back to your seat and acting like you hadn’t just cried your eyes out. You didn’t know they knew it of course but… Your acting stabbed right through them, they were familiar with it. (Why didn’t you let them help you?)
What hurt more was probably how you still acted after hours. Like nothing was wrong. You silently helped out Sun in cleaning, ignoring his worried stares and touches.
I can’t do it, Sun thought to the other one in his mind.
‘Then what?’
…I don’t know. I don’t know! What if they don’t want to tell us?
‘So we will just ignore it?’ Moon’s voice came out harsher than he meant to, making Sun flinch.
N-No but…
“Ow.”
A little noise from you made Sun’s head shot up— His eyes quickly finding you staring numbly at your finger.
Alarms immediately appeared on his screen when the red blood entered his vision.
“STAR!” He was right next to you in a second, his hands taking a hold of your hand gently compared to his panic and looking around for more wounds.
“Sun—“ You tried to pull his attention back but he was so focused on mumbling to himself. You were hurt and there was lots, lots of blood. It felt like the cut was small, (caused by a broken glass? Why was there—) but Sun couldn’t help but still fret. “Sun, it’s fine—“
“It’s bleeding all over the place!” He shrieks, taking some napkins out of his pocket to hold it on the wound, it quickly drowning in red. “It is not fine!”
“It probably hit a vein or something, trust me—“
“Why would I!?” Sun’s attention was still on your finger, fretting over it, as both Moon and you were frozen to that question.
“W-What?” You tried to chuckle, joke, the air around you tensing up noticeably, making Sun huff.
“Never, never taking care of yourself, Star! It— It— You never tell us anything.” He took a bandaid out, carefully putting it over the small cut. His voice trembled as he clung to your hand. “How can I trust your words that you are fine?”
His eyes were unable to look at your face but he noticed your hand shaking.
He wanted to cry.
Something in his throat felt so tight and he wasn’t sure what.
He was a machine. Why did it all feel so overwhelming?
“Sun…” You sounded so overwhelmed as well, your voice filled with many emotions. “I…”
You didn’t continue.
You never did. You never continued.
All they wanted was to help you.
“Is it all an act?” Sun still didn’t look at your eyes, words uncharacteristically quiet. “Being friends? Being close? A kids play?”
“Nothing… serious?”
Your hand tightened around his.
Stupid, stupid, stupid, his mind screamed at him and he agreed. Before you could say a word to him, the lights went out with a loud sound. You hadn’t even noticed the time passing.
The lights going out made their hold on you tighter before letting go. Moon took a step back, his hands slipping away.
His gaze on the ground, his mind went over Sun’s last words. Of course it wasn’t the first time the two had thought about that but neither of them ever voiced it out loud and now suddenly it felt too real.
Who were they to ask about your feelings?
Who were they to ask for your trust?
They were some property.
Both of you were frozen in place and Moon couldn’t dare to look back at you. He couldn’t bear to stare at your hopeless face. Your tears. Your heartbeat was fast, he could detect that. Did they hurt you?
He wasn’t even able to imagine your face in that moment, it suddenly felt unnatural.
“M-Moon..?” Your trembling voice. We are sorry, so sorry— Dear sweet Star, shining so bright— You didn’t need them. You never did. “…It isn’t like that. It’s not an act.” Your voice broke half way through as you took a step forward.
Robots couldn’t cry.
“It’s… I am sorry.”
Why were you apologizing?
“You are everything I have, I… I promise.” You stopped in front of him, pulling his face towards you to meet eyes.
He wasn’t even in control as he lifted his hands to wipe your tears. You cried more than you deserved. He wanted to save you from them all.
“I am sorry for making you feel this way.”
“We are… friends, right, Starlight?” Moon didn’t like how vulnerable, desperate, he sounded but also— He couldn’t care that much. He couldn’t care that much because it was you.
“Yes. And you are important to me.” You gave them a smile and it warmed their body immediately. The tears mixing in between still hurt so much but your smile, it always shined right through.
It wasn’t a conscious thought as Moon leaned forward until his head bumped to yours softly. To your small surprised gasp, he got back to himself.
Why was he so close?
He tried to not let the topic open, wrapping his arms around your form and resting his head on your shoulder. You were taken back by the surprise hug but didn’t wait long, hugging him just tight.
He held you back just as tight too.
Like you would disappear.
He didn’t want you to disappear. He wanted you. They needed you. They could not let you disappear.
With the way your body was shaking right now, silent sobs racking through your body, it hurt so much. It hurt them. You were so broken but— but it was okay.
It was… okay.
They were broken too and you were their star. You lightened up their life. They couldn’t even imagine the things going without you.
They would be here for you too.
With you, wrapping your wounds. Here, listening your mind and heart. Hugging you, comforting you, holding you in such a way that you always deserved.
They didn’t know how to cry but all they wanted was to wipe them away for you. They loved you so much, you were just so warm. They wanted nothing but to hold you.
Things were easier after that moment.
And they were glad! You still smiled at them through these times, but not in a ‘See, I am fine!’ way but a ‘Yeah, a tired day.’ They were so so so happy—!
But something felt missing.
Sun wanted to hold you closer but you were right there already, as close as you can be, hugging him. These feelings, they were just so— so— overwhelming! They loved you, you were their best friend, and Sun wanted to just… squeeze you! Gently.
He wasn’t sure how to express these feelings of his. It felt like he was going to explode. Humans usually had many friends, right? Maybe a few best friends? How did they do it with this constant feeling?
Sun was so happy that you didn’t mind his touchiness, or else he wouldn’t know how to calm down. This feeling inside him begged to get out and you were the only solution. You would let him hold you, having alone quiet times together after hours.
Just you and them.
You would chat as you sat on his lap, back to his chest. It was so comfortable, you had no idea! He would either play with your hands or hair, or just resting on your shoulder as he stared up to you.
He always felt something in his chest fluttering, shaking, wanting to get out! How were you this lovely? How did you manage to make him feel this way? If he didn’t know any better, he would think that he was broken!
But no.
No.
It was just you, and he was okay with that.
“Sun?” His thoughts were cut off by your voice, making him perk up— He hadn’t realized you were staring at him now. His fans worked faster in the slight embarrassment.
“Y-Yes, Star?” Your smile widened, giving a small chuckle. You leaned closer to him to bump your forehead to his.
“Are you even listening?” He gave an offended gasp, his arms tightening around you.
“I am hurt! How can I not listen to you?” It was like his smile widened as he rocked in his seat with you. “You should talk more, silly.”
“…I think I talk enough.” You sounded shy but oh gosh were you wrong! He could listen to you all day and night. It never felt enough enough, he just knew he liked hearing you.
“Nope!” Voice of an angel. Was that accurate? He wasn’t sure. Considering this symbolic creature should sound safe, comforting, perhaps it was indeed accurate. He nuzzled his head to yours, making you laugh.
He didn’t notice you hesitate on something there.
Moon wondered every passing day, how could they convince you? Convince you that you were enough, you were doing so good. That they cared for you to the Moon and back, pun intended.
As Sun played with the kids, Moon watched. He watched as the prince role saved the princess, both laughing and gagging jokingly when some other kids went ‘Kiss!’.
He watched as the parents came, hugging their kid close. Some even giving a kiss on the cheek, making the kid giggle and try to complain.
They weren’t stupid now. They knew a kiss can mean many things compared to context. And maybe as friends they could…
He shook the thought out of his head. He was being ridiculous.
He tried to stop thinking about it but it was impossible.
When the lights went out during the cleaning hours, he found himself behind the jungles, out of your sight. He had thought he was ready for his working hours but… No. Ever since those… thoughts… were here, he had been distracted. His whole body felt like it was burning whenever he looked at you.
You were so soft, so warm, so human. Something they could never be.
He hoped that you didn’t notice him disappear as he crouched, knees close to himself. Sun tried to comfort him— For what? Neither of them know. His mind felt so confused, empty.
Different.
“Moooon?” Your voice made him flinch back to the reality. His fingers pulled and stretched the fabric of his pants, not sure what to do.
What if he ends up doing something wrong? He…
You were overwhelming them. That was it, he had gotten so attached and probably was in a place that they shouldn’t be in. As an animatronic, why did he have to deal with this stuff?
“…Moon?”
He still didn’t answer, crawling back into one of the entrances of the jungle. He navigated through it easily, a digital map in his mind, he took a seat in a corner.
He turned off his audio detectors, silence engulfing him.