Chapter Text
The Superstar Daycare is always flooded with kids. Parents coming in to leave their children in the capable hands of the daycare attendant while they indulge in some fun elsewhere in the Pizzaplex. Teenagers dropping off their younger siblings, basically ditching them so they can go hang out with their friends.
The daycare attendant sees a lot of different kids get dropped off, sees a lot of different adults and teenagers wander off with the knowledge that the children will be well taken care of. So when you show up with your little sister, he expects you to be the same. He expects you to leave her behind and hurry off to meet up with some friends. Except that you don’t.
You’re both a little different from what he usually sees. The little girl that’s with you has the same eyes as you and she has a neon pink cast that covers her left arm from the elbow to her knuckles. It’s littered with kids’ names in messy handwriting. You look nervous and seem to draw in on yourself when a parent brushes past you to drop off their son.
Sun greets both the boy and your little sister and welcomes them both into the daycare. When he asks for your sister’s name, she hesitates for a few seconds before saying “Alice”. He claps his hands, the bells at his wrists jingling and making her beam. “Alice?! That’s a great name! Just like “Alice in Wonderland”! What do you like to do, Alice?”
“I like drawing! Look! I drew on my cast!” She lifts her arm, pointing at something on her cast that he didn’t see before. A big sun shining above a flower with green scribbles at the bottom that looks like grass.
“That looks amazing! I know! Let’s get some crayons and paper! Oh! I have markers, too! Do you like markers or crayons?” Sun’s head lifts from looking down at “Alice” and he focuses his attention on you. “What’s your name?”
You jolt at the question, not thinking that he’d even acknowledge you. From what you heard, the mechanical daycare attendant only interacted with children. You’d never heard of him carrying on conversations with the adults; his whole purpose is to take care of the kids.
He’s a bit intimidating. Towering over all of the children and even making you feel small in comparison. His arms are long and thin, spindly in appearance with fingers that are slender. The bright, colorful pants and shoes that he wears give him an aesthetic that reminds you of the circus and every time he moves, the bells at his wrists and on his shoes jingle. His height gives him the appearance of semi-menacing clown and it takes a bit of courage to make yourself speak.
“Oh, uh, I’m Y/N.” The unchanging expression on his face, that Cheshire cat smile, is unnerving. You lower your eyes, fidgeting with the edge of your sleeve. Not quite sure of how to ask if you can stay. You don’t want to leave your sister here, but you don’t want it to seem like you don’t trust the attendant.
Of course you trust him. These animatronics run off of specific programming, right? So he’s programmed to be a good caretaker, programmed to entertain children and keep them safe. You don’t doubt that he’s good at his job! It’s not even him that you don’t trust; it’s the other adults.
So many parents coming and going. What if he accidentally lets her leave with someone that isn’t supposed to have her? “Alice” needs your protection. She needs you to keep her safe from them so you have to stay.
“Is it…is it okay if I stay here? At the daycare?” It’s tough to force the words out because you know you sound strange. You know that the parents waiting behind you are thinking that you’re weird, the teens scoffing at you for choosing to stay here instead of going off to enjoy some games and pizza.
The tall animatronic tilts his head to the side, but his expression remains stuck in that same sunny grin. “What? You want to stay in the daycare?”
“The rest of the Pizzaplex is…overwhelming. It makes me nervous. I want to stay here.” It isn’t a lie. All of the sounds and people and the neon colors feel like an absolute sensory overload. This area is still pretty colorful and loud, but it somehow feels more manageable. Not to mention that if you stay, you can keep watch over your sister.
He taps a long, slender metal finger against his chin as he seems to consider your request. Finally, he nods enthusiastically. “Of course! You’re a big kid, but you can stay, too! Just make sure to follow the rules and we won’t have any problems!”
No adult or teenager has ever asked to stay at the Superstar Daycare. He’s so used to kids just being dropped off and not seeing their parents or older sibling until much later in the day. Although he’s excited to have a new kind of guest in his daycare.
“Alice” rushes into the play area with the little boy that arrived around the same time that you both did. Already making friends with him and settling into a game of tag. It doesn’t take long for other kids to join in and you’re left standing alone at the edge of the play structure.
It makes you anxious when she disappears from sight, but you can hear her voice. She’s giggling and she sounds so happy when she calls out to her new friends. Even though your stomach is in knots over not being able to see her, you can feel a tightness in your chest. When was the last time your little sister was this happy?
“So what do you like to do, Y/N? Do you like to draw? Or read picture books? Or build stuff? Or do you like doing crafts? I can get you whatever you need! Everyone should have fun in the daycare!”
You almost forgot about the attendant. Not looking away from the play structure, you give a halfhearted shrug. “I…I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?! That’s okay! Oh! All of that stuff is for little kids, isn’t it? You’re not a little kid! Let’s find something fun for big kids to do! What can big kids do for fun?” Sun bounces in place, going through a list of all of the activities he does with the daycare kids, but none of them seem quite right. You’re a big kid! You probably don’t want to color or play with blocks!
“No, no! It’s okay! I’m just happy to be here!” Struggling to reassure him, you question if his programming is going to make him persist. Does he really think you’re just a big kid?
“Really?!” He scoops you up, lifting you off your feet with his hands beneath your arms. The animatronic twirls in circles, holding you up at eye level as if you’re as light as one of the little kids he’s in charge of. “In that case, you can be my helper today! I’ve never had an assistant! This is going to be so much fun!”
A smile tugs at the corners of your lips, your hands lightly resting on his shoulders to keep yourself steady. “Yeah! That sounds like a lot of fun!”
Sun feels like he’s just been freshly recharged. Like he’s so full that electricity is pulsing over every inch of his metal frame. He wanted to get you to smile, but he didn’t think it would look this cute! You’re so adorable that he could just squeeze you!
When a batch of toddlers arrive, you help him usher the group to the block area while the older kids continue their game of tag. He watches over everyone, but pays particularly close attention to his new assistant. The way you sit on the floor with the toddlers while they’re building little structures with the blocks, how you worry over them and help them back up if they fall down. You’re so sweet and you have such a bright smile!
He didn’t know how the day would go, but he’s so glad that you asked to stay now! Just look at how much help you are, too! You even help clean up when they’re done playing with the blocks! So, of course, he has to make sure you get a little more during snack time. After all, you were such a big help and you’re not a little kid!
“Are you having fun, “Alice”?” You can see a bit of food smudged at the corner of her mouth and reach over to wipe it away. There’s a heaviness in the pit of your stomach, a feeling of guilt. You wish you could’ve spent some more time with her earlier, but it sounded like she was having fun with her new friends.
“Alice” nods and chews the last bite of her snack before she replies, “I’m making a lot of friends! Can we come here again soon?”
“You’re not leaving after snack time, are you?!” The daycare attendant appears behind you, a metal hand settling on your shoulder. “You’re going to miss out on all of the games we were going to play this afternoon!”
There are stars in her eyes when “Alice” looks at you. “Can we stay? Please? Please, please, please? I wanna keep playing!”
“Um…I don’t know.” A glance at your phone shows that it’s about midday. You can’t hang around for long. Not with the other plans that you both have.
“But you said you would make sure I had a good day! You promised! I’m gonna have the best day ever if I get to stay and play with my friends and Sun! Please, Y/N!”
The attendant leans down so his face is right beside yours, that unwavering smile inches away. “Come on, Stardrop! You don’t have to leave yet, do you? You’re my assistant today! I need you to keep helping me!”
A few of the other kids protest, too. Older kids not wanting their new friend to leave so soon, a few of the toddlers looking like they might tear up if you leave. Your shoulders hunch and you glance toward the exit.
The thought of having to navigate your way through the crowded Pizzaplex sends your pulse accelerating. The muscles of your stomach tensing at the idea of what’s to come once you really do leave. Worry makes you chew at your bottom lip and you lower your head. “I guess…I guess we can stay for a little bit longer.”
Your decision is met with cheers from “Alice’s” new friends and you jolt at the feeling of thin metal arms wrapping tightly around your torso, inadvertently trapping your upper arms against your sides. “Yaaay! We’re going to have the best day ever! After snack time, let’s all play a game! How about hide and seek? I’ll be the seeker!”
He’s just a robot, you remind yourself. Just a robot, but it still feels so nice to be hugged. Even though he isn’t literally warm or soft like a human, it still feels like a form of affection that you desperately needed. It’s odd. You’re still convinced that he’s directed completely by his programming, but it seems like he’s genuinely happy that you’re staying.