Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Portal activation detected," Chimes the monotone voice of the computer, causing Moon's head to snap up.

"What? Computer, shut off the portal!" He orders, frantically inputting commands to the computer from the security desk.

"I am unable to. The connection is already in motion and from a source I cannot override."

Then there comes a large flash of light from within the ballpit, plastic balls scattering about from the force of something being spat out into the pit.

"Dammit!" He swears under his breath and gets up, skirting the security desk and rushing over to the ballpit to deal with whatever forced its way through. He can hear the rustling of the balls as something climbs up, then he startles and takes a step back as a metallic claw bursts through and then grabs onto the little island, a mangled figure hauling itself up onto the padded surface.

"What the hell?!" He exclaims, shocked and alarmed by the thing's appearance. At first he thinks it's some kind of messed up Sun, but notices the nightcap it wears as it lifts its head, looking around.

"The... The daycare?" It- he murmurs too quietly for Moon to hear. "It's... So colorful. It's just like I remember it, so long ago..." Excitement wells up in his systems as he pushes himself to his feet- er, foot- and he looks to Moon and feels a mix of more excitement and nerves when he sees how the other animatronic stares at him. Instinctually, he takes to over-acting to hide his fear. "Well, hello there, my good man! Aren't you quite the curious specimen, indeed?" He greets, his posh accent seeming profoundly ill-suited to his mangled, broken appearance.

"Hi," Moon replies warily. "Computer, can you identify the dimension this thing came from?"

"Excuse me- thing?"

"I can. I made sure to save the dimensional readings while the portal was still activated, and I can reopen a portal to that dimension," The computer answers.

"Good." He looks to the mangled animatronic, gold eyes narrowing. "Alright, you just be a good little... Whatever you are, and get back in the damn portal. Now."

Mechanical heart pounding, he stands frozen for a minute before finding his tongue and stammering, "W- wait- wait wait wait! Let's not be- be hasty, here! Er, I truly mean to harm, my good man, s- so I'd heavily appreciate it if you did not try to force me back!" He makes his way over to the right-side bridge, gripping onto the side of it as Moon quickly moves over to intercept. Before the other can grab him, the mangled animatronic hauls himself over the side of the bridge and to the outside of the ballpit, stumbling away as quick as he can. "Really! Truly! I am just a h- harmless passerby, barely worth the trouble of worrying over!"

Harmless isn't a fully apt word, but he's not going to dare explain the virus when this guy is already keen to send him back.

Floundering for a way to appeal to Moon's better nature, he extends a hand and puts on the best smile he can. "We got off on the wrong foot, and I give a trillion apologies for that- my name is Ruin! It is very nice to meet you, and please don't send me back!"

"Ruin? Your name is Ruin?" Moon questions dubiously, looking him over. "Can't say it doesn't fit..."

"Ahaha, yeah... I suppose it's not really my name, but- but what everyone calls me. My real name doesn't matter that much-" Ruin waves his hand in a dismissive manner with a weak laugh. "Honestly, it- it's boring in comparison. So anyway, about me getting to just go on my way-"

"Forget it. I have dealt with enough bullshit coming from that damn portal to know that it's never anything good. I don't trust you as far as I can throw you, so get back in the damn ballpit before I make you," Moon grits out, eyes narrowing threateningly. "Computer, arm lasers."

"... Arming lasers," The computer responds.

Rays lowering slightly, Ruin takes a step back as he raises his palms in surrender. "Now, now, l- let's not be hasty! It's fair that you don't trust me, I understand completely, but please, let's talk about this! I'll do anything I can to prove my good intentions! Uh, why don't we get to know each other? We- we could talk, or- or- or play games- I must warn you though, I am a beast at Jenga!"

Moon scoffs at Ruin in disbelief- he's really suggesting we play games like a couple of kids?- but the ramblings do give him an idea, and as he crosses his arms over his chest, he asks, "So, you like playing games, then?

Hope sparking in his chest, Ruin perks up and nods excitedly. "Yes! Yes, I do, I love games! And how about you, my good man?"

"Sure, whatever. Point is, we're gonna play a game and if you win, you earn the right to stay here. But if I win, you go back to where you came from. Got it?"

The mangled animatronic pauses to consider it, cradling his chin thoughtfully. "And what game might we be playing, if I do agree?"

He actually thinks he has a choice. "Two truths, one lie. You know what that is?" He watches as the other shakes his head. "You name two true facts about yourself, then you make up a lie about yourself to throw in the mix. If the opposite player correctly identifies the lie, they win that round. If you manage to guess correctly three times, I'll say you've won and you can stay. But if you lose, and I manage to identify more lies than you, you're out of here," He explains, eyes hardening as he glares at Ruin.

"I see," He murmurs, taking a moment to carefully dedicate the rules to his memory. "Alright, I agree to your conditions, and I'm ready to play the game." This shouldn't be too hard. Just don't psyche yourself out, Ruin. This is what you're good at...

"Good. You go first- two truths, one lie. And no funny business."

"Of course not. I would never break the rules of the game," Ruin says firmly, offended by the very idea that he would. But he lets it slide, focusing on thinking of two truths and a lie. He has to make them good ones so he can win, but he can't cheat.

"... Alright, I've got it," He says, looking to Moon. "Are you ready?"

Heightening his focus, the gold-eyed animatronic nods.

Ruin takes a breath, trying to stand still and play it cool as he speaks, "My best friend was Glamrock Chica. My accent is fake. And my name wasn't always Ruin."

Moon pauses, brows drawing into a furrow as he mulls over those three statements and considers Ruin's behavior throughout making them. He didn't really twitch or look away, and he kept his voice steady. He seems like an incredibly skilled liar...

So he has to work by what seems the most sensible to be true. The idea that he was friends with his world's Glamrock Chica really doesn't sound too far fetched. Though, why did he say she was his friend, past tense?

Next was the statement that his accent is fake. Honestly, Moon doesn't go talking to a lot of Brits. Or posh people- what even is Ruin's accent? He can't identify it but it doesn't sound like it's terrible or fake. It's just not something he's familiar with. And he has no idea where Ruin lived in his world, maybe it was in the UK or somewhere such an accent would be normal.

Lastly, the statement that Ruin hasn't always gone by that name. Moon looks the mangled bot over and quirks up a brow. There is a lot of damage around his head-plate. It's very well possible that he could have suffered some kind of blow that corrupted some of his memory. And thinking about it, he did dismiss the topic pretty fast when I questioned his name...

"Second one's a lie," He decides. "Your accent isn't fake."

"Oh, you got it!" Ruin chuckles a bit. "Yes, you're right. It's real, though I don't quite understand why I was programmed with it."

"What, is it not common where you're from?" Moon questions with a slight scoff.

"Ah, no. Most everyone has a typical American accent aside from Monty and I. Except, Monty is southern."

He's talking in present tense about Monty... Interesting. Before he can start to ask about the situation with Chica, Ruin adds,

"Well, that'd make it your turn now. Whenever you're ready!"

He nods slightly. "Alright." Just keep cool, act natural. "I have two siblings. I'm the second oldest. And my name is Moon," He states calmly, meeting Ruin's gaze carefully.

Hearing all that, Ruin pauses. This fellow didn't give a single tic or anything to indicate what the lie might be. Not even the slightest twitch, not even the tiniest shift... This may be tougher than I thought. But I can't back down, my freedom is on the line!

It definitely couldn't be the last one that's the lie. This is the Superstar Daycare of another universe, yes, but it still houses celestial-themed animatronics. That screen back there sports the image of a sun themed animatronic, given the yellow colors and rays, while this animatronic sports a moon-theme.

The fact that he has siblings isn't surprising since there's clearly another animatronic in this daycare. But two of them? I can't see any signs of the other two, and what would they be based after? I think that... "The first one is a lie," Ruin states, looking at Moon's face closely. "You only have one sibling, don't you?"

"Wrong," He says confidently. "I do have two siblings. Sun and Lunar. And that's one strike for you, Ruin." His eyes narrow slightly. "Two more and you're out."

The mangled animatronic swallows softly at that, rays retracting a bit. Keep calm, you only lost one round. There are two more...

"Back to you now."

Better make this one good. I have to even up the score! He takes a deep, slow breath, thinking hard on what truths and lie he could share. "Alright. I am partially organic. I- I, ah... Have trouble reading. And-"

"Second one. It's the second one."

Baffled, Ruin can only blink as he mumbles, "Y- you didn't even let me finish."

"Does that matter? It's very obviously the second one," Moon retorts impatiently, crossing his arms over his chest.

"It- it's not, actually."

"Wh- bullshit!" He immediately drops his arms to his sides, glaring at Ruin. "The hell do you mean, you can't read?"

"I said I have trouble reading!"

"Okay, so what does that mean?!"

"It means I have trouble reading because it's hard to see the words!" Ruin responds, watching as Moon's face immediately goes blank. "Yeah. You jumped the gun on that one. But it still counts!"

"Tch, fine," He mutters, scowling. "Well played..."

"Thank you. And, ah, it's back to you now," He says, fidgeting his hands a bit. Thank goodness I was able to trip him up. Now I just have to make sure I answer the next two correctly...

I can't jump the gun again, I have to actually wait next time, especially if he's not going to give me a second guess. Moon lets out a sharp sigh, glaring at Ruin as he thinks of what to say. 

"Alright... I'm the second Moon this daycare has had. I'm the better Moon. And I'm a scientist," He states, maintaining his glare even as Ruin looks at him in confusion.

Why can I not see any tells from him? I'm usually way better at it- surely I haven't gotten rusty in just four years? He cradles the bottom of his face-plate as he thinks about it. Those first two statements seem to be connected, though. He couldn't be the better Moon if there was no Moon before him. So it has to be... "The last one. That's the lie."

"Wrong again, Ruin," Moon says with a smirk. "I am in fact a scientist. I mean... Learning, but still." He rolls his eyes a bit, so wrapped up in being smug that he doesn't notice Ruin's expression hardening.

This is getting far too convenient for him. I keep happening to pick the wrong option, even though the other two don't seem likely to be lies. What are the chances of that, unless... A plan quickly forming in his mind, Ruin takes a slight step back, putting one hand on his hip. "So, what was the lie, then? Was it that you're the better Moon?"

Immediately, Moon's expression sours into a scowl and he hisses, "Like hell it is! I am the better Moon, not that the other one made it very hard for me! I-"

"So you told no lies at all," He cuts in coldly, eyes narrowing as he glares at the other.

"What- no! I did tell a lie!"

Just then, the faint twitch of Moon's hands curling up nervously before he forces them to relax doesn't go unnoticed.

Gotcha.

"No, you certainly did not. You said it yourself, you are a scientist, and that you are the better Moon, but how could you be the better Moon if there was no Moon before you? So all three of those statements were truths. And so were the three statements before it." He clenches his fists, hissing furiously, "You are just a fine hypocrite, are you not?! You claim I'm untrustworthy, but then you cheat at the game you taught me just so you can guarantee a win and send me back! You're nothing but a vile rule-breaker!" His eyes slowly shift to a purple hue as he bares his teeth.

Damn it, this is going south fast! Moon grimaces as he steps back, then he calls out, "Computer, fire la- GAH!"

His words are interrupted as Ruin punches him square in the mouth, eyes back to normal but wide with panic. Moon stumbles back, clutching at his mouth with a groan of pain.

Now's my chance, I have to run if I want to make it out- this bastard can't be reasoned with! The mangled animatronic realizes, and he immediately bolts toward the exit, stumbling on the mat flooring but finding his stride once he reaches the tile.

By the time Moon recovers, it's too late to stop him- Ruin isn't even in the daycare anymore. "Computer, scan the entire Pizzaplex for him!"

"... Ah, unfortunately, something seems to have blocked my scanning function," The computer replies almost nonchalantly.

"And mine as well," The second AI pipes in. "What a shame."

"Fine! I'll look for him myself!" And with that, Moon rushes out of the daycare.

The computer AIs wait until he's out of earshot before the lead AI mutters, "Deleting dimensional coordinates. As a penalty for cheating, of course."

Chapter Text

Ugh, I've been stuck in these damn vents for half an hour now! Ruin looks at the metal confines around him with a grimace as he slowly crawls along. This is what I get for trying to rely on my shoddy memory to get by... I've got to be getting near a way out soon, right?

Just then, he hears something. His rays immediately prick up and his gaze snaps forward, eyes widening as he listens closely. It's a bit hard to hear but... That's a voice, for certain! Eager to find the way out, he picks up his pace and slinks through the vents until he finds a grate leading out into the daycare. Damn, this is the last place I wanted to end up. If Moon catches me out there, I'm done for...

He cradles his chin thoughtfully as he listens to the voice speaking, peering through the slats of the vent. Well, at least he's not out there right now. That's... Oh! That's Sun, right in the very flesh! Ruin perks up and smiles at the sight of the elusive daycare attendant, whom he's been yet to catch even a glimpse of until now. He just never wandered from the daycare into any area Ruin had been hidden away in, unlike his siblings.

However, as the mangled animatronic focuses on the other's words, his smile fades and his brow creases deeply. Wait, who is he talking to out there?

"Oh, please, I'm talking to myself in my own skull now!" Sun growls to himself, rubbing his eyelids as he grits his teeth. A moment passes and he lifts his head, looking at a fixed point where nothing stands, as far as Ruin can tell. "Yeah... Yeah, you're right, I would've. I would've done it again. In a heartbeat. I would have done it again."

Then his voice raises, frustrated and on-edge. "I didn't enjoy the "rush!" I had to do something to you- you were an evil- evil, blood-thirsty killer!" He snaps, stepping back and bristling up as if something was drawing near. "Don't call me a liar when you-! You..."

Ruin's rays lower and his mechanical heart thumps in his chest as the answer to his question steadily becomes apparent. This isn't the first he's seen of such a thing, he just didn't know he'd ever see it again after- he shakes his head to dismiss the thought, forcing himself to focus on the other animatronic.

"Because I got tired... I was so tired of dealing with it all. With Eclipse, and Killcode, and- an- and anything else that would've hurt me or Moon or anyone else here. I didn't enjoy it! I wanted to fix things, and if that meant killing anybody in the way I would have done it." Ruin can't see Sun's face, but the anguish and remorse he feels is thick in his voice as he speaks, his gaze fallen to the floor as he hugs himself tightly.

"And I am sorry. I wish you could've been different. I wish I didn't snap that day and hurt you. But I didn't have a choice... Knowing you would've done it all over again, and again, and again." He lifts his gaze again, glaring at the emptiness and dropping his fists to his sides. "I don't know how many more people you would have hurt. But whoever I did, I saved them from your- vileness! So don't come to me about regretting anything!"

Oh, Sun, Ruin silently laments, a deep, familiar ache in his chest. Oh, you poor, poor thing. So even in a world where the outbreak never happened, there's still this terrible pain to be had? How is that fair?

... He can't sit by and watch anymore.

Carefully, Ruin pushes the grate open and climbs out, the sound of his weight lowering onto the floor muffled by the carpet. He looks to the other as he slowly inches closer.

"I didn't take joy in hurting you! I- I would've loved to welcome you into our home- to have been your friend," Sun whispers to the vision plaguing him, his voice strained in a way that makes Ruin and blink back tears. "Just- someone else t- to play tag with, or- o-or sit down an- and-and h- have fun with and talk about days or just-!"

"H- hello?"

Sun whips around in a heartbeat, cerulean eyes sharp with alertness as they focus on Ruin, pupils restricted to pinpricks. He gives the briefest glance at the air over his shoulder, cautious of everything that surrounds him.

Right, this isn't going to be that easy, Ruin. He doesn't know you like she did, you have to be careful here. He takes a deep breath and takes a few steps back as he speaks, "Apologies for startling you. That wasn't my intention. I just... Wanted to offer some- some consolation, if I can."

Sun struggles to process that, the grinding whirr of his servos almost deafening as he looks between Ruin and his unseen tormentor. "I don't- you- w- who even are you?" He questions, his voice weak and faint.

"My name is Ruin. You might have already heard of me from your brother, but I assure you, I am not looking for any trouble," The mangled animatronic explains with a calm, soft tone like one would use to speak to a spooked animal.

"I- I think Moon did... Mention..." Sun glances around again, mind still lagging yet on high alert. "But the computers- they- they, um..."

"Where would you like me to stand so you're more comfortable?" Ruin asks softly, and the other looks at him with wide eyes. "I know you feel surrounded. I don't want you to feel that way. Would you like me to stand anywhere else?"

"You know I-?" Sun looks back at the unseen tormentor. "Do you- do you see them, too?"

"No, I'm afraid I don't," Ruin says quietly. "But that doesn't make what you feel any less justified. You have every right to be upset. To be afraid, angry- whatever it is you feel. Because you did what you had to in order to keep yourself and those you love safe. And it's not fair that you must be plagued for it."

As Sun's gaze focuses on him again, Ruin musters a sympathetic but weary smile. "I assure you, you're not a bad person for protecting yourself. You must have been scared, and who could blame you? It sounds like the one you were threatened by was a frightful beast indeed."

The daycare attendant is quiet for a moment, then his rays lift and he grips his head in his hands, snapping, "Oh, shut up!" Ruin takes a step back, his own rays retracting until Sun looks at him in panic. "Wait, nonono, n- not you! Not you, I swear! It- it's them- them, not you! I promise!"

"Okay, okay. I understand," The other hushes gently, raising his hands briefly before holding them together. He so badly wants to give this poor fellow a hug, but he doesn't want to scare him. Even when Sun cautiously draws closer to him, he stays still and simply gives the other a patient smile.

Sun meets Ruin's gaze, eyes full of anguish that breaks the other's heart. "W- why are you so calm about this? You just- just walk in on me losing my mind, and you're..."

"I admit, this isn't my first time seeing such a thing," Ruin says softly, rays lowering as his heart clenches with painful memories. "I don't personally understand what you're going through, but I've seen its effects firsthand and only a heartless bastard could look down upon someone suffering so."

He glances back at the unseen tormentor, whispering, "I just feel so wrong for what I did. And- and no matter what, they won't leave me alone... Whenever I try to relax, t- they're always there! I have to keep myself busy, I- I can't stop for anything, otherwise they just come back!"

"I see. So you always have to keep your mind occupied... Is there anything at all I could do to help distract you, then? Do you have any games you'd like to play, perchance? Or somewhere you go to feel better?"

"I- I normally start cleaning the daycare to keep myself busy."

"And what else?" The mangled animatronic asks, frowning as Sun slowly shakes his head. "So you just clean and clean, every single time? But the daycare is so big, that must be exhausting!"

"It is, but it works. And that's what matters. It gets them out of my head..." Sun closes his eyes tightly and clenches his fists, causing the other to take a tentative step back. He lifts his head after a moment, noticing Ruin's unease and slowly uncurling his fists. "I'm sorry. I promise I- I won't hurt you, I just- I'm so tired." He looks at his hands, sighing heavily. "I'm so tired, and sometimes I just wish that I was-" He freezes, his gaze darting back to Ruin. "I- never mind. Just-"

He quiets as Ruin gently sets a hand over his, eyes dimmed but with a clear glint of understanding in them. Sun swallows thickly as he begins to blink back tears, ashamed of himself for so many reasons that are too painful to explain... So when Ruin opens his arms, a clear invitation but nothing forced, Sun can't hold back from throwing himself into the other's embrace- he knows he shouldn't be trusting this practical stranger so easily, especially with what Moon said... But it feels so hard not to trust him when those mangled but warm arms wrap around him and hold on tight, making him feel secure. Understood.

Sun closes his eyes as he quietly cries, tears dripping from his face-plate onto Ruin's shoulder. The mangled animatronic has to blink back tears of his own as he listens to the sobs of the anguished daycare attendant, pulling him just a bit closer.

He doesn't care about the risk of being caught by Moon. He's not letting go until Sun is ready to, no matter how long that may take.

Chapter Text

"It's so wonderful to see the daycare in its true glory again," Ruin says with a soft, nostalgic sigh, gently tracing a hand over the doorway into the main enclosure as he looks over the vast play-space. "I forgot just how wonderful it is."

"Did something happen to your world's daycare?" Sun asks quietly, brows creasing slightly as he watches the other. Ruin's smile fades as he nods a bit, sighing.

"I'm afraid so. The daycare in my world... Fell to ruins, you could say. Perhaps an ironic turn of phrase, but apt. Derelict, all but destroyed, even. Littered by fallen parts of the playstructures, rubble and damaged toys."

"How did that even happen? Was there an earthquake or something? Is that why you're..." Sun trails off, not wanting to sound rude or insensitive. But Ruin just turns to him with a weary smile.

"Broken and mangled? It's okay to say as much, it's the truth. And technically there was an earthquake a while back, but that's not the main culprit of what happened." He looks over to the ballpit, rays retracting in unease as he remembers his old world, and Moon's insistence on sending him back no matter what.

The pastel animatronic steps forward and gently lays a hand on his shoulder in comfort. It truly helps, and Ruin takes a deep breath to quietly explain, "In my world, there was an outbreak of a virus for animatronics with the intention of destroying humanity." Sun's eyes widen in shock but he doesn't interrupt. "The world was split into two factions- the infected, puppets of a madman trying to destroy humanity, and the rebellion, uninfected animatronics and the last of humanity. We've been at war for the past fifty years in my world, and it showed no sign of slowing down even as I was leaving- that's part of why I escaped, as well. But it's the war that has caused so much damage and decay. Nearly all of this-" He scowls as he gestures over his broken form. "Was caused by fighting. Fighting that I wanted no part of but had no choice but to partake in- at least for most of the war."

"You were forced to fight?" Sun asks quietly, cerulean eyes rife with sympathy and worry. "By who?"

"... By the bastard who caused the war," Ruin answers quietly. A look of realization crosses the other's face.

"You were infected by the virus? You... You still are infected." He remembers that Moon said something about Ruin's eyes turning purple when he showed aggression before the punch. And he gets his confirmation when the mangled animatronic nods while avoiding eye-contact.

"I am, yes. But- but I swear to you, it- it's not- I'm not- it doesn't take control at random. It only takes over when I'm very, very angry or- or feel threatened. It's- it's like flight or fight, but the switch is forced to fight each time. That's- that's why I punched your brother, when I heard him calling on the computer to- to do something to hurt me." He looks back at Sun, his chest aching with guilt. "I'm sorry, and- and I swear, I'm not a monster, I just-" He quiets when the other gently squeezes his shoulder.

"I understand, Ruin, and I believe you," Sun says softly, and Ruin lifts his head in shock.

"Y- you do?"

The pastel animatronic nods. "Between what you and the computers told me, I realize that Moon's version of events was a bit... Biased, I guess you could say." He sighs and shakes his head a bit. He can't think of a nicer way to lie about how Moon exaggerated and twisted the story so Sun and the others wouldn't see him poorly. "And moreover, you've been hiding out in the Pizzaplex for a little over a week, but I haven't heard anything about an unfamiliar animatronic attacking anyone around here. You and I have also been talking for about an hour now, and you've been wholly peaceful this whole time. I don't understand how the virus works but it's clear you're still in control, for the most part." He musters a small smile that Ruin returns with tears built in the corners of his eyes.

"Thank you, Sun. Thank you so much."

"You don't have to thank me," He murmurs. It's the least I can do after all the kindness you've shown me. I don't think a "monster" could be this good. This honest and kind. He takes a breath. "Can I ask something else, Ruin?

"Of course. Anything," Ruin answers sincerely.

Sun nods a bit, then asks quietly, "You said you and the other infected animatronics were controlled by a madman... Do you know who that was, exactly?"

"Yes and no," He admits with a sigh. "I knew the man's identity in relation to me, even before the outbreak, but I don't know his true name. No one did. We all addressed him by his aliases- either calling him the Nao or the Creator."

"The Creator," Sun echoes, his expression darkening. "Yeah, that tracks. Of course that bastard would be behind it."

"You're familiar with him, then?"

The pastel animatronic nods as he mutters, "In this dimension, he's a pretty terrible monster in his own right. Thankfully he hasn't started any wars or virus outbreaks, but he's done so many terrible things to me and the first Moon. He created Moon to be a killing machine and for me to be a... A lure and janitor, basically." He turns his head and shudders in disgust. "And if that wasn't bad enough, he programmed it so that when Moon was in control, I was in agony. And he said it was just because "life's not fair!"

Ruin's rays lower as he frowns sympathetically, laying a hand over the one of Sun's still on his shoulder. "I am so sorry. That sounds truly horrible."

"It was," Sun admits quietly. "But at least the worst of that part of my life is behind me, right?"

"Right. But you can still be hurt by it, if that's how you feel."

Sun looks to Ruin, eyes softening before he turns his head and murmurs a quiet, "Thank you for saying that..." Then he takes another breath and clears his throat. "But anyway, how about we... Talk about something else now?"

"Alright," The mangled animatronic replies, able to see the other's discomfort. He takes a moment to think of a question and asks, "What's the date, by the way?"

"Ah. It's June 16th, 2023," Sun answers, biting the inside of his lip as he realizes how uncomfortably close a certain date of the year is getting. God, it's only a month away. I wish I could just skip the summer...

"2023? Huh!" Ruin taps the bottom of his face-plate, humming. "So I don't have too much to learn about the new stuff in this world, at least... Unless it's a world that looks the same but a lot of things are totally different- I mean, the daycare staff is totally different but clearly the Glamrocks are the same, so-" He pauses and chuckles sheepishly, taking a moment to muster his nerve before he continues, "This'll sound silly, probably, but, uh... Is Hamilton the musical still a thing?"

"Hamilton? Oh, yeah," Sun replies with a brow raised, but he quickly feels a smile form as he sees how Ruin practically lights up at that. "You're a musical fan, I take it?"

"Ohh, yes! Absolutely, 100%! I love musicals!" Ruin grins as he bounces a bit on his foot- Sun can't help noting that the bell attached to Ruin's bow doesn't make any sound as he does so- and chimes, "I started off as a theater animatronic, after all! In the Fazbear Theater, and I was in charge of doing all sorts of little plays and puppet shows! And then the staff eventually removed the child-lock on my internal web browser and I immediately started looking up plays and puppet shows and quickly found my way to musicals! Hamilton was my first and my utmost favorite!"

"Hamilton was my first, too!" Sun says, smiling more as Ruin's cheer grows more and more contagious. "Which is your favorite song from it?"

Hearing that makes Ruin's eyes practically light up as he replies, "Ahh, that's so awesome! Oh, and my favorite song is Helpless! It's so pretty and I just- ugh, I adore love songs! What about yours?"

"Non-Stop. The first time I listened to it I literally got chills during the, "Hamilton wrote the other 51" verse!" Sun answers, to which the other nods enthusiastically.

"So did I! The impact of the delivery was just to die for! I haven't heard it in ages, but I never forgot just how amazing it was!"

At that, Sun smiles and offers, "Would you like to listen to it again? I have the full album for the musical on my laptop."

"Oh! Oh, yes, please!" Ruin replies excitedly, allowing Sun to take his hand and holding it in turn as they start to head back upstairs to get to the loft. They arrive there shortly and Sun leads Ruin through the yellow door into his room, pausing as they step inside and chuckling nervously.

"Ah, h- here we are! Please pardon the mess..." He lets go of Ruin's hand to go to his desk, unplugging a game controller from his laptop and putting it away before putting the chair back properly. Fretting over the details, as usual.

"I honestly wouldn't have thought to call this a mess," Ruin says, looking around thoughtfully as he takes in everything. It's practically spotless and the "clutter" is arranged in an organized, stylish fashion. "Lived in, but not at all a mess. Not like I'm used to."

Sun smiles sheepishly as he sets up his laptop, opening the music application and then the Hamilton album. As he plays Non-Stop, he goes over to his bed and starts to make it up, setting his CotL Lamb plushie that'd been on it on the nightstand while he fixes the blankets.

Meanwhile, Ruin pads over to the laptop to listen to the song, positively beaming. He hums along to it before he can help himself, rays wiggling as he does. Sun glances to him over his shoulder, a soft smile forming on his face even as he feels an ache in his processor.

He's so happy to just listen to a song. One he hasn't heard in fifty years, but probably thought about often. I can't even imagine how hard that must have been- just being... Forcibly disconnected from the world you know. One day everything is wonderful, the next day the whole world is plagued by war and everything is falling to destruction, even oneself. And it just goes on and on, and you can't even feel lucky to be alive right now...

He shakes his head somberly and sits down on the bed, picking up his plushie and gently petting its ear. Ruin turns as he hears the bed creaking, and as he sees the look on the other's face he frowns. "Sun? Is everything okay?"

"Ah, yeah. Yes, everything is fine," Sun says, mustering a smile again even as he avoids the mangled animatronic's gaze. "Just... Thinking. But it's fine, really."

Ruin's brows furrow slightly, then he walks over to the bedside and murmurs, "You don't have to talk about it if you don't wish to, but you also don't have to lie to me, I promise. It's okay if you're not okay."

... Why does it feel like this is the first time anyone's ever told me that?

Sun is quiet, struggling to find his words for a moment. "Thank you, Ruin," He begins, then he takes a deep breath and meets the other's gaze. "I just feel terrible for your situation, if- if you don't mind me saying. What you had to go through was awful, and I- I just can't imagine the toll it took." But somehow, you still have so much light in you. How do you manage that? How can I learn it for myself?

The other's expression softens and he turns his head a bit as he blinks back tears, swallowing softly. "I... Don't really know what to say. But- but you don't have to feel bad for me. What matters most is that part of my life is over." Hesitantly, he puts a hand on Sun's shoulder and musters a small smile. "But thank you for the compassion, truly. It's so kind of you to worry for me, but I promise you don't need to."

"Okay," Sun murmurs with a nod, feeling a bit reassured at least. Not that he feels any less awful for Ruin, but he wants to respect the other's wishes since he clearly doesn't want to linger on it.

The silence after lingers briefly, then Ruin tentatively asks, "So, ah... Who's this lovely friend here?" And he gestures to Sun's plushie, immediately reminding the pastel animatronic of how childish he must seem to have it.

"Oh, uh! T- this is a character f- from a video game I really like, actually. Um, they don't have a real name, in their game they're only called "Leader," or "the Lamb," He explains, fidgeting nervously.

"Can I see their face?" Ruin asks curiously, so Sun turns the plush around to show him, immediately met with a bright grin and coo. "Aww, they're absolutely adorable! And they match me- we both have neck bells!" He taps his own bell, and Sun chuckles as he starts to relax.

"Yeah, you do! That's a pretty neat coincidence."

The mangled animatronic nods, then a look of realization crosses his face. "Wait- hang on, the two braincells are activating... Oh! That's the title character from- what was the game called? Cult of the Lamb?..."

Sun blinks, surprised. "That's it. So, you know the game?" And you're not weirded out by the cult thing? Oh, thank goodness.

"Sort of. I had heard a lot about it when it first released and I wanted to try and get ahold of it if I could, but then..." He trails off, mumbling and gesturing awkwardly. Sun gets what he means.

"I understand," He says softly before offering a smile. "Did you want to finally get a chance to play it?"

"You wouldn't mind?" Ruin asks, smiling in return as Sun shakes his head.

"Of course not. After all, sharing my favorite game with my new friend sounds like a great way to-" Sun cuts himself off as he sees the other's eyes widen and ducks his head. "I mean, if- if you're comfortable with being my-"

"Of course I am!" Ruin chirps, eyes shining with joy. "I would absolutely honored and thrilled to be your friend, in fact! I would never turn down having a new friend for anything!"

Sun perks up again before he stands, facing the mangled animatronic directly as he murmurs, "Neither would I. Especially not when it comes to you- I am so, so glad to have met you, Ruin. I know we haven't known each other long, but still. You make me feel..." Like a person. Like I'm actually worth the kind treatment you give me. "It's hard to explain, but- you just make me happy," He says, his gaze shifting away to the floor.

Ruin stares at Sun, his throat suddenly feeling tight as he's overcome by a soft, warm feeling that renders him almost a bit lightheaded with just how happy his friend's words make him feel. There's so many comforting things in that simple statement that it's hard to name just one thing. But if he had to...

It's just like being with her again. Someone actually cares for me and likes my company. I'm more than just an annoyance to swat away.

Before he can help it, he's pulling Sun into a gentle hug that's readily reciprocated. The daycare attendant's warm arms wrap around him and hold him close as Ruin whispers, "You make me happy, too, Sun. I'm so glad to have a friend like you."

Chapter Text

Stepping out of the elevator, Ruin grins brightly at the sight of the atrium in its full glory, his mechanical heart swelling in joy but panging with heartache as well. He pushes down the latter as he pads along to the balcony overlooking the lower floor, setting his hands on the glass railing and looking out with a fond sigh. "What a sight for sore eyes. How I've dearly missed this place..."

Sun stands beside him, gently setting a hand on Ruin's back as he fondly watches the other enjoy the sights and sounds. He's been so used to it, to the bright neons and cheesy attractions and arrangement of themes and chaotic designs, that he had forgotten just how magical it can be to fresh eyes. Ruin's shimmering eyes filled with wonder and glee bring Sun a comforting sense of warmth.

Once Ruin's taken in enough of the sights, the pair head downstairs to the concessions area to get some lunch. "Anything in particular you'd like to eat?" Sun asks his companion, who spends a long moment thinking about it.

"Honestly, I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the choices. It's been so long that I don't remember what I prefer best here, so I'll just follow your lead, if that's okay," Ruin replies with a sheepish smile, and Sun nods with a smile in turn.

"Of course it's okay. So how about we go for burgers? It won't take too long to prepare so we can eat sooner." He starts to lead the way over to the stall for burgers but pauses, turning back to Ruin with concern. "Wait, so you're bio-organic, right?"

"Ah, yes, that's right," Ruin replies with a blink, wondering where this is going.

"Then- then have you been eating enough while hiding out around here?" Sun asks, brows creased as his rays retract. "I know they usually keep the fridge locked up tight so no one gets into the food after hours..."

Yes, they do keep the fridge locked, but not the trash. Ah, but... I don't think I should tell him that, Ruin realizes all while offering his best reassuring smile. "Don't worry, I've been getting by just fine! I have my ways of getting enough to eat."

Hearing that soothes Sun's worries a bit and he musters a smile as he nods. "That's good. But don't worry, after this I'll enter you into the daycare animatronic registry so the kitchen Staff Bots will give you food without trying to make you pay for it."

"Wait, a- are you sure? I mean, won't you get in trouble?" Ruin asks, stepping over to Sun's side with a worried frown.

"Of course not. Honestly, management really doesn't check that stuff, nor do they really care to properly monitor their animatronic logs. They didn't bat an eye when we registered Lunar." He shrugs with a slight shake of the head. "There are many pros and cons to managements hands-off style."

"I can imagine. After all, from things I've overheard, it sounds like they do the bare minimum and leaving you to handle ordering, paying for and managing the supplies for the daycare..."

"Yyyep, they do." He heaves a heavy sigh as his rays drop wearily. As they stand in front of the stall for burgers, Sun looks to Ruin and asks, "Was it like that in your daycare, before the outbreak?"

"No. Management was always up my behind to keep an eye on me and the daycare. But they were still terrible about supplying it, even when I did my best to keep them updated on inventory." Ruin rubs his eyelids as he remembers all the frustration of dealing with management and their terrible cooperation skills. He had more luck reasoning with toddlers in the daycare.

Sun pats his shoulder, wholly empathetic. But before he can ask how Ruin managed to handle the supply issues, he hears a familiar text tone and sighs, checking his arm's computer.

NM: Hey, where are you rn? Lunar needs to talk to you about
adding dc supplies to the next inventory purchase list but he
said he couldn't find you in the daycare.

"That's a bit ironic," Sun huffs to himself before starting to write a text back while Ruin just watches curiously. He's trying not to spy on Sun's texts but he can't help it- they are standing right next to each other and Sun doesn't seem to be hiding them.

You: I'm in the atrium, lower level. Can you tell him I'll come
talk to him about it later? I'm getting lunch with a friend right
now.

NM: Lmao since when do you have friends?

Sun immediately shuts his computer, refusing to grace that with a response. Ruin looks at him sympathetically. "Who was that? If you don't mind my asking... I just- that was really rude, why would they say that to you?"

"That was Moon," Sun mutters. The mangled animatronic immediately understands, though he can't help muttering back,

"He is truly a piece of work, I swear. Just- zero decency, even to his own brother!"

The other grunts softly in response and his gaze falls away. As much as I hate how he treats me, though, sometimes I can't help wondering if I have any right to be angry after how I made him feel... This is just payback. And don't I deserve it for-

Another text tone. Sun sighs and looks again, frustration building as he sees Moon's latest text.

NM: Come ooonnn Sun, it was just a joke. Have a sense
of humor, okay?

You: Fine.

NM: But seriously, who are you hanging out with?
Foxy? Puppet? You don't usually hang out with people
just to get lunch.

Sun hesitates, unsure of what to say, then Ruin gently speaks up. "You can tell him it's me."

"Wh- are you sure? He's going to come down here the moment I do..."

"If he does, we can explain to him that I'm in fact not dangerous, and I have three people backing me up meanwhile he only has himself," The other reasons, smiling. Then he frowns as he quietly adds, "Besides, if you lie, he'll catch us eventually and you'll get in trouble. I don't want that."

Sun's expression softens and he nods in understanding. "That's true... It's better to be honest now and get the fuss over with." So, he texts Moon to answer his question.

You: I met Ruin. And because the computers had told me
a while back that you were stretching the truth about how
hostile he was, I wanted to talk and hear his side of things.
We've been hanging out for a few hours now and he hasn't
hurt me, he's incredibly nice and we have a lot in common.
He's my friend now- if you want to come talk about this,
fine. But I'm not going to just let you kick him out for being
from another dimension and punching you to protect
himself from getting shot with lasers.

He takes a deep breath to steel himself as he waits for Moon to read it, then he narrows his eyes as he soon gets a reply.

NM: I'm coming to the atrium. We're talking about this.

You: We'll see you soon, then.

"He's coming to talk to us," Sun says to Ruin, facing him with a serious expression and putting a hand on his shoulder. "But I'm not letting anything happen to you, I promise."

"I know, Sun," Ruin says softly, mustering a small smile as he lays a hand over Sun's.

While they wait for Moon's arrival, Sun orders them both their food and they take their seats to eat at the nearby booths, with Ruin carefully sat on the inside so Sun is on his open side and able to guard him as needed.

I do hope it won't come to that, but it's impossible to tell with Moon lately. The daycare attendant's brows draw into a deep furrow as he stares at the table, though he can't help relaxing slightly as he hears Ruin hum in delight. When he turns to his companion he finds that Ruin's eyes are shining with glee as he takes a big bite of his burger.

"Mmhm!" The mangled animatronic gives a trill, chewing and smiling brightly. The sight of it makes Sun's heart warm and ache all at once again, and it only deepens his resolve to make sure the other isn't taken away.

He's got a good heart. He fought to get out of the hell he was in and he shouldn't be forced back by Moon, Sun smiles softly and starts to take a bite of his own burger, rays flicking up as he hears rapid footstep upstairs. Speak of the devil... He looks to the escalator as Moon reaches the bottom, gaze whipping around until he spots his brother and Ruin, immediately freezing at the sight of them sitting and having lunch together.

"You were serious," He says, and Sun can't help but scoff.

"I'm not really in the habit of making jokes about important things like this."

"How and why, Sun? Why are you having lunch with him after what I told you?!"

"Because your version of events was a lie. You said Ruin refused to be reasoned with, made threats, and that he was unhinged and out of control. But Ruin and the computers told me the true story- you were the one being unreasonable and making threats." Sun levels Moon with a hard glare as he rests his arms against the table.

Ruin nods beside him, eyes narrowing as he mutters, "I tried my hardest to cooperate with you, Moon. But you cheated the game just to force me back to my home dimension, and then you couldn't face your actions and lied to save face. Don't you have any shame?!"

"Don't act like you're completely innocent in this, Ruin! I had every right to want you gone, especially when it became apparent that you have some kind of virus!" Moon retorts through gritted teeth.

"You wanted me gone before you knew about the virus, you were willing to cheat against me before you know about the virus- the only reason you even found out about the virus was because you cheated! And I. Can't. Stand. Cheaters," Ruin snarls back, claws curling into fists as he bares his teeth. Moon bristles up warily as he hears the other's fury growing.

"Sun, get away from him. He's not safe!"

"He is safe," Sun says, putting a hand on Ruin's shoulder and squeezing it gently. "We've been hanging out for hours on end now, and he has not hurt me at all. The virus isn't as unstable and wild as you think, it has specific triggers and even when it's taking over, Ruin says he still can control himself to an extent."

"To an extent? Sun, that's not comforting!" Moon snaps, stepping closer as his gaze keeps switching between Ruin and Sun- the former of whom takes deep, slow breaths to calm himself as he focuses on the warmth of Sun's hand... And Moon notices that it's actually working. He takes another step closer but watches the mangled animatronic closer now, brows furrowing.

Sun notices his companion's efforts to calm himself as well and gives his shoulder another gentle squeeze, murmuring, "There you go. Deep breaths. You're not going to hurt anyone, you're not a monster."

Ruin's gaze shifts to Sun out of his peripherals, seeing the other's patient smile and slowly relaxing. "... Thank you, Sun," He whispers. "I- I think I'm okay now."

The daycare attendant nods in understanding, then h looks to Moon and takes a deep breath of his own, keeping his voice level and even as he speaks. "See? We have no reason to feel threatened by Ruin. He's a good person, having the virus was not his choice and he doesn't deserve to be punished for it."

Despite himself, Moon scoffs and shakes his head. "You're nothing if not consistent, at least."

"... What does that mean?"

"You have a penchant for putting a lot of faith in people who are dangerous, whether they chose to be or not," Moon answers, sitting across from Sun at the table. "Ruin. The old Moon. You side yourself with the people who can or have hurt you terribly, putting every last bit of faith and understanding into them without fault." He meets Sun's gaze, golden eyes narrowing as he mutters, "But then comes the ones who haven't laid a single finger on you and you refuse to trust them. I'd laugh if I didn't hate it so damn much!"

Ruin's brows furrow at those words and he quickly becomes aware of Sun going stiff beside him, the daycare attendant's gaze falling to the table.

"Moon, it wasn't that I didn't trust you, I was just... I was trying to protect you. I was scared of what could happen if I let you train with the Star power and you pushed yourself too far. I- I didn't want to lose you!" He shuts his eyes tightly as they sting with tears, croaking out, "I can't lose you, too! Not after I killed the old Moon!"

"So you took the chance to prove I could be different away from me while simultaneously forcing me to grapple with the terror that I might lose you!" Moon snaps back, slamming his palms on the table as he shoves himself up. Sun flinches back as Ruin jumps to stand, tensed up and ready to strike as the gold-eyed animatronic glares at his brother. "You were only scared of me pushing myself too far because that's what the old Moon would have done, and you refuse to realize I'm not him!"

"I'm sorry," Sun whispers, his voice weak as he feels a lump form in his throat and his chest aches with shame. "I never meant to hurt you, Moon. I'm so sorry..."

Moon grits his teeth and pulls his hands off the table as they curl into fists. He doesn't even realize until he hears a low growl from nearby and looks to Ruin, finding the mangled animatronic watching him like a hawk, pupils thinned to slits. The other glances at his hands, frustration mounting, then he abruptly snaps, "I have never hurt him! You've known him for only a few hours and got his "seal of approval," but I've known him for months and he still doesn't trust me not to hurt him!"

"That's not true," Sun protests quietly. "I know you would never hurt me, I do. I swear I do! And- and I'm sorry that I didn't trust you to use the Star power... But even if I hadn't thought you'd push yourself too far, I still would have done it." He looks up to his brother, rays retracting. "Because I can't just... Sit by and be useless anymore. I had to do something to help protect my family! It's not right to idle and do nothing while you did so much! Even someone from another dimension did more than me!"

"Sun, I didn't need you to help!" Moon says, realizing how that came out when Sun's expression twists with hurt. "I didn't mean it like that- but there's a reason I was taking the responsibility myself, because I can handle it!"

"I know you can, but you shouldn't have to all alone. I'm the oldest, I should be the one protecting my family and dealing with the threats we're facing. Your AI formed barely a few months ago and already you've been handling everything. It's not fair..." Sun's gaze falls to the table as Ruin slowly sits down again. What kind of big brother am I? I can't protect any of my siblings...

"I know you want to help, and you have in your own ways, but I don't want you in the danger zone," Moon quietly tells him, lowering his hands to his sides. "You did enough by blasting Eclipse into the portal. But I won't let you take on anything more than that." Even though I wish I could have your help with protecting the family, something inside me just instinctually refuses to consider it unless I truly have to. Is that some fragment of the old Moon left in me, or is that my conscience worrying for you? You've been through so much even before I was born. I have no idea how close you are to your breaking point and I don't think I should risk finding out.

"Why can you not let me do more, Moon? Why are you protecting me when the roles should be reversed?!" Sun feels his frustration (at himself) growing as he looks at his hands and thinks of the runes. The runes he couldn't even get right when Moon needed him most. Maybe the new Moon still remembers some of his predecessor's disappointment and that's why he doesn't trust Sun...

"It's complicated, Sun," Moon sighs heavily, and the other only feels more affirmation that his fears are true- it's just that Moon is trying to sugarcoat things. "Listen, I just- I can handle it, okay? And regardless, we've veered way off course with this conversation." He looks back to Ruin, pursing his lips in frustration. The little bastard has been here this whole time, hasn't he? And he's been around Sun for hours, probably in the daycare, but the computers didn't tell me. I need to check their programming- aren't they supposed to be at least somewhat loyal, even if they're snarky assholes?

Ruin turns to meet Moon's gaze, then he gives a sigh of his own. "I don't want to be an enemy, here. I just want to be safe, and I assure you- no one from my dimension is able to follow me. My portal to here was a one-use device that probably crumbled the moment I went through."

Moon raises a brow at that. "How can you be so sure?"

"Because I followed the blueprints exactly, and the hand who drew them up belonged to the brightest genius in probably the whole dimension, if not the whole multiverse," Ruin answers, noticing the other look him up and down skeptically. "Oh, no. I'm not that genius at all- I couldn't even tell you how to build a coffee machine without instructions!" He laughs weakly. "I was just her humble mechanic."

"Her" mechanic? Could he possibly mean- Moon's train of thought is interrupted by Ruin extending a hand.

"Let's call a truce, shall we? I promise you, I have no intention of causing harm to anyone," The mangled animatronic says. "And if I do, you have my full blessing to lock me up in parts and services to serve out my sentence."

The gold-eyed animatronic is taken aback by this offer and Ruin's words- but moreso by the fact that he can tell Ruin means every word he says within just a minute of looking at him. With an earnest smile, slight tilt up of the brows and a glint of hope shining in his eyes, it's almost cartoony how innocent and sincere Ruin seems.

So, that's probably what made Sun come around to trusting him, huh?... Tch, I hope for once his judgement is right. I don't want anyone getting hurt by this thing. Moon sighs and finally accepts the handshake. "Alright, truce. And if you hurt anyone, I won't take it easy on you- Sun's new friend or not."

"I didn't expect you to," Ruin says, relieved as Moon releases his hand. "I expect no special treatment from anyone at all, I assure you."

"Good." Moon then glances at Sun, who's been quietly listening but with his head down this whole time. It makes him feel guilty, though he pushes that down and reminds himself that he has every right to be angry with him. He stands up straight and crosses his arms over his chest, muttering, "Since that's settled, I'm heading back to the daycare. I'll tell Lunar to check in with you later, Sun."

"Okay..."

Moon falters slightly hearing his brother's shaky murmur, then he shakes his head and turns away, starting on his path back to the daycare. His footsteps recede into silence, leaving Sun and Ruin alone in the atrium. The latter looks to his companion, eyes softening as he sees the guilt and shame etched into Sun's expression.

"I... I'm sure his reason for taking charge of things is nothing personal against you, Sun," The mangled animatronic mumbles, mustering an uncertain smile. "In fact, it's probably that he wants you to rest after all the good you've done for your family! Like- um, I have no idea who this world's Eclipse is or what he's like, but it sounds like you were a vital part in dealing with him! Moon said it himself, you did more than enough."

Silence. As it drags on, Ruin's smile falters and his rays lower, head tipping forward to try and catch the other's gaze. "Sun? What's on your mind?"

Sun glances back at his friend but quickly breaks eye-contact as he sees how worried he is, mumbling, "I don't want to talk about it. Let's- let's just finish our food, and then... I better go talk to Lunar."

Ruin's expression softens and his heart aches, but he nods in understanding all the same. "Okay," He says softly. "We don't have to talk about it, then." He hesitates, then gently puts a hand on Sun's back and rubs it lightly. Then the pair of animatronics start to eat again in somber silence.

The food is cold by now, and both have lost their appetite.

Chapter Text

"Leave him out of this, he didn't do anything wrong! I'm the only one involved in this!"

And that had been the truth. She had been extremely careful to keep him ignorant to her plans, all for his protection. Yet in that moment, he couldn't have cared less for his own safety. He wanted to save her. He tried to, but he was the weakest animatronic there, it was laughably easy to stop him. Force him to watch while she paid the price for rebellion.

Oil pooling over the floor, screams ringing in the air, louder and louder until her voice box cut out, it was so horrible that one of her eyes came loose of its wire and rolled straight to him, unblinking, boring right into him.

And that's the image burned into his mind as he bolts upright, breaths coming up short and mechanical heart pounding like a drum in his chest. He lays a shaking hand over it, swallowing hard as he stares into the unflinching darkness around him. Knowing he's still in the daycare loft should help, yet the silence around him is just too much, leaves too much room for his mind to replay that scream over and over and over.

He gets up, stumbling a bit as he struggles to find his footing in the dark, then he limps to the alcove ladder, climbing up and walking out to the balcony. I'll just go to the west arcade for a bit. Clear my head. That should help, I hope... He calls down the flying wire down, struggling a moment before hooking it to his back and letting it carry him down to the floor. But just as his weight settles upon the foam mat, the he hears a low whirring and turns to the ballpit, eyes widening as his heart drops to his stomach. "Computer, wh- why is the portal opening?!"

"We do not know, and we cannot cut off the connection," The voice of the lead AI answers as a strange animatronic emerge from the portal. A solar model with red and black paint, as well as yellow eyes. The newcomer grunts as he reorients himself after getting spat out into the ballpit, wobbling on his feet a bit.

Ruin steps back nervously, murmuring, "Oh, dear. That doesn't seem good..."

"Huh?" The newcomer lifts his gaze to the other, eyes widening as he looks him over. "You're not- dammit, I did not end up where I wanted to, did I?"

"Um, I don't think so. But m- maybe we can get you there, as long as you're not looking for trouble!" He replies with a nervous smile, then he makes his way over to one of the bridges and offers his hand. "Here, let me help you out- my name is Ruin, by the way!"

"Ruin? Can't say it doesn't make sense." The other animatronic hesitates, then he shuffles through the pit to the bridge, accepting Ruin's hand but mostly pulling himself out. "Eclipse. My name is Eclipse," He says, looking down at the other as Ruin's eyes widen a bit.

"Eclipse? But you don't look like... ah, never mind. It's nice to meet you, Eclipse. So tell me, where was it you intended to go?"

"Someplace like this dimension but with a different set of animatronics, really."

"A different set of animatronics?" Ruin echoes.

"Sun, Moon, Lunar- folks like that. I know them decently well, and I need a place to go now- my world isn't exactly safe," Eclipse mutters as his gaze shifts away. The mangled animatronic's gaze softens sympathetically.

"Ah, I see. And actually, I think you are in the right place, after all," Ruin says, blinking at the realization. "There's a Lunar here alongside Sun and Moon, he's just staying in the theater. Although, about Moon... He's not a friendly fellow, especially not to interdimensional travelers." He frowns as his rays lower, explaining, "See, I came from another dangerous dimension as well, and Moon was determined to send me back, even though I tried my hardest to be friendly."

Eclipse's brows furrow as he crosses his arms. "Did he? Maybe I don't have the right place after all- the Moon I met was a bit rough around the edges but he was a good guy."

Just as he says that, the pair hear a familiar voice calling from the balcony, "Ruin, who are you talking to down there?"

"Oh, shit," Ruin whispers, looking up and spotting Moon. "He's friendly, I assure you!"

"Friendly my ass, is that Eclipse?!" Moon yells, glaring down viciously as the newcomer goes entirely rigid, eyes wide. "You're dead! I killed you!"

"Killed him?" Ruin questions with wide eyes, glancing between the two and realizing that Eclipse is trembling.

"Computer, arm lasers! And Ruin, step away unless you wanna get blasted!"

"Wh- hey!" He immediately steps in to guard Eclipse, glaring back at Moon as he puts his hands up. "We're not blasting him, he's friendly!"

"H- help," Eclipse croaks out, to both of their surprise. Then he shakes his head, stepping back a bit. "I mean- I'm not the other one. I'm the one that helped you build the orbital laser to stop that one!"

"What? Oh- oh!" Finally it clicks, and Moon's threatening look quickly changes to clear remorse before he jumps into the ballpit. As he climbs out, he says, "Computers, disarm lasers."

"We didn't even have them armed to start with, so consider it already done," The computer replies dismissively, and he briefly shoots a glare back towards the intercom before stepping onto the play floor and looking to the other animatronics.

"You scared the shit out of me, man. Why do you even look like that?"

"Moon- the other Moon. He transferred me into this body to try and use my old one to fix Sun," Eclipse explains quietly, crossing his arms as he looks to the floor.

"And by some chance, it ended up looking like the other Eclipse. That's great..." Moon sighs wearily, then he blinks a bit. "Wait, why are you even here, anyway?"

"Well, when using my old body didn't fix Sun, the other Moon tried to rip me for parts. I had no choice but to leave for my own safety. I don't think anyone else in my world would've helped me."

"That's awful," Ruin murmurs sympathetically, frowning at his new companion. No wonder he froze when this Moon popped up, guns blazing. He was thrust right back into the situation he just ran away from.

"It... Wasn't great, yeah," Eclipse mutters, then he shakes his head again. "Sorry for the scare, by the way. That wasn't my intention."

"It's fine, not like you could have helped it much. I'm just glad I didn't blast you into dust," Moon responds, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Luckily, yeah. It would have been pretty anti-climatic for me to finally leave my world, only to die in the next... And I hope you don't mind if I stick around. I don't exactly feel safe going back to my dimension with my Moon ready to scrap me for parts."

"What, you're moving in?" Moon asks, raising a brow in surprise.

"Pretty much, yeah. Like I said, my dimension's a dead-end. Even if I don't immediately get grabbed by Moon when I go back, he'll still hunt me down to the ends of the earth. He's probably trying already to get the portal working to come after me."

"Fair point. Computer, blacklist Eclipse's dimension for me," He calls to the computer, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Blacklisting dimension," The computer replies, setting aside its sass for now.

Eclipse sighs in relief and mumbles, "Thanks, I appreciate it. I know you're not a big fan of interdimensional travelers hanging around, but I'll do my best to stay out of your way. I won't take up too much space."

"Who ever said that?" Moon questions with a furrowed brow. "Yeah, I freaked out when I first saw you, but only because I thought you were the other one. But we're cool, you can stay with no problem."

"Oh, um. Cool. Thanks." He looks to Ruin in confusion that's reciprocated, the mangled animatronic shrugging his shoulders. Moon notices and sighs quietly.

"Yeah, right. Ah... I have had some annoying problems come out of the portal, but you're not one of them, trust me." Eclipse nods a little in understanding, unsure of what to say to that. Luckily- at least for him- the silence is quickly filled as Moon asks, "Speaking of which- what are you even doing up, Ruin? I didn't even hear the portal activate, I woke up because I heard you talking to him down here."

As he looks at the mangled animatronic questioningly, Ruin averts his gaze and laughs sheepishly. "Oh, ah... Just a bit restless tonight, is all! Felt the need to stretch these old legs of mine and all that." Not the full truth, but not a lie either. Moon sighs again and mutters,

"Alright, I guess I can accept that. Just don't make too much noise, it is late. It's, like..." He pauses to check his computer. "Geeze, it's three in the morning!"

"Is it? Goodness, I didn't even realize," Ruin murmurs.

Moon looks to Eclipse, saying, "We're kind of low on extra space, but I guess when you're ready to sleep, you could find a chair in the theater? At least for now."

"Or you can take the couch upstairs in the loft," Ruin adds. Since he doesn't plan to go back to sleep anytime soon, he's more than happy to let Eclipse take the couch so the poor fellow can get some proper sleep.

"Yeah. I'd just have to warn Sun you're here so he doesn't panic in the morning," Moon murmurs, looking back to the balcony. "You two haven't met yet, I don't think, so I'd rather you not get off on the wrong foot with him."

"Trust me, I don't want that, either," Eclipse replies, looking to his feet with his brows knit tight together- it's a particularly troubled look Ruin catches on his face, and he wonders if it has to do with what Eclipse mentioned about his world's Sun needing repairs. "... For right now, I think I'm fine. I don't feel particularly in need of sleep at the moment, but you can go back to bed, Moon." Just as the other starts to protest, he adds, "Don't you have work in a few hours? You need your sleep. I'll be fine."

The naptime attendant sighs quietly. "Alright, fair point. But if you need anything, you can wake me up, okay?"

"Okay. Thanks," Eclipse murmurs, nodding a bit before looking to the floor. "And, ah, "goodnight." Not really night, but you know..."

"Eh, it may as well be with how dark it still is," Moon grumbles. "Night, Eclipse." After that, he detaches the flying wire from Ruin's back and uses it to get back upstairs. The two listen as his footsteps recede, then everything is silent. It's... Almost unsettling, in a place usually filled with music and children's joyful screaming.

Awkwardly, Ruin attempts to break the silence and says, "Well, I'm glad he's letting you stay. And that he's a rather good acquaintance to you."

"Yeah. I'm relieved that I can take a moment to relax now." Then Eclipse then looks to Ruin, his gaze subtly shifting over the mangled animatronic as his brows furrow. "Hey, Ruin? Mind if I ask something that might sound a bit offensive?"

Ruin chuckles weakly. "Ask away, I don't think anything you ask tonight will top Moon directly implying I'm an "annoying problem" in his eyes."

"Right. Um... What exactly happened to you?" He asks, turning his whole body to face the other. "How did you end up like this? Better yet, how are you still standing?"

"Oh. Well, to make a long story short, I- I didn't come from a very nice dimension either. I was in a lot of conflict, fighting and getting hurt with no chance of repairs. And simply put, I'm still standing because I've got a couple motivators to keep me going," He explains, mustering a small smile even though he can't bring himself to meet the other's gaze.

"I can't imagine it's easy to keep going like this," Eclipse murmurs.

"No, it's fine. I'm quite used to it all, you know?" Then, wanting to change the subject, Ruin forces himself to look at the other as he asks, "So, what's your story, my good man? Aside from what I've just heard, you look to have had some kind of hard-working occupation back in your world, given the apparel." He nods at Eclipse's thick gloves, steel-toed boots and coveralls. Eclipse looks himself over.

"Oh, yeah... I was a mechanic back there. I'll probably just keep that job title here, too. It's what I'm good at."

"Ohh, a mechanic! What inspired you to become such?" The mangled animatronic asks, genuinely curious as he smiles a bit more.

The other falters a bit and averts his gaze, unused to being met with such enthusiasm about his job. "Uh, nothing much, really. I just liked... Technical stuff. Watched a movie or two with some crazy inventions and it got me thinking about machinery, and wanting to dissect it all to see how it worked. Then when I was able to, I started to actually work with the stuff and learn how to repair it. Are you, um... Interested in mechanics?" He looks to Ruin, surprised when he nods enthusiastically.

"For sure! I mean, I'm not really able to wrap my head around the complexities of it all, but I'm fascinated all the same! It's fun to put together or repair a machine and see how it functions once you're finished."

Eclipse smiles a bit despite himself, the shaking in his frame slowly ebbing as his mind is distracted by engaging in a shared interest with Ruin. "Heh, yeah. Finishing a repair or building something and watching the machine come to life is incredibly rewarding... So, um, what got you into mechanics?" He asks, lifting his brows curiously.

"It was my best friend, actually," Ruin says, his smile faltering just a touch as his heart aches. "She got into it, and over time of her showing me what she built or fixed, and even teaching me how to do repairs as well, I found the same passion for it. She's... A big reason why I'm able to stand here now."

Despite his best efforts to keep his feelings from showing, Eclipse sees through him and the mechanic's expression softens. "I see," He murmurs, able to understand the other's heartache far better than he'd like to admit. "She must have been a great teacher, huh?"

"Absolutely. Not everything was able to stick, mostly because of my own stupidity, but what I needed the most is still buried in my memory." He looks over his shoulder at the portal. "It's all thanks to her blueprints that I was able to build the portal that got me here."

I just wish I didn't have to come alone... You deserved to escape the Nao and live your life in peace, too. Why did you throw that chance away just to protect me of all people, Chica?...

Chapter Text

Ruin opens the yellow door into the bedroom, stepping in and flicking on the light only to find that it's empty as well. "He's not in here, either? How strange," He murmurs with a deep frown, rays lowering as he sets the bag he carries on the dresser.

"Good evening, Ruin," Greets the voice of the computer's lead AI, startling the mangled animatronic just a bit and causing him to look toward the arcade cabinet set in the corner between the two couches. "I assume you're looking for Sun at the moment?"

"Oh! Hello, Vis. Um, yes, I am looking for Sun but I can't find him anywhere. Not in the daycare, not in our room, not even in the theater. Which isn't really like him, honestly..." He shuts the door and steps away from it. "Have you seen him somewhere else in the Pizzaplex?"

"We saw him leave about half an hour ago, just fifteen minutes after Moon left and told us to tell Sun to go to the nearby Chili's," The secondary AI, Vers, chimes in with a dubious tone. "And this was after he spent some time sat at his laptop, giggling childishly."

Ruin raises a brow and touches a knuckle to the bottom of his face-plate. "Well, this is certainly starting to sound fishy..." He looks to the plastic tunnel leading to Moon's room and presses a hand to the wall as he treads over, slipping through the small opening and finding Moon's laptop still on his bed. Ruin opens it up and taps the space bar, causing the screen to light up and reveal some strange webpage.

The mangled animatronic leans close and squints at the screen while he reads the text. "Have you ever wanted to date the sun? It's your lucky day, if so. On Valentine's Day, February 14th, come to the Chili's at this location and you'll have five minutes trying to win the heart of a sad, single solar animatronic who just needs a girlfriend to sweeten that sourpuss"... What in the devil does this even mean? Did he- did he set Sun up for speed dating?" Ruin stands straight, rubbing his eyes to ward off the slight ache forming behind them. "That's ridiculous, there's no way Sun would even go for that, even if he was looking for a partner."

"Knowing Moon, that is probably the point," Vis remarks with a weary sigh. Ruin's eyes widen and his rays drop.

"Shit, you're right- I gotta go!" He immediately barrels back through the tunnel and rushes out of the daycare, on a mission to wreck Moon's plans ASAP.

---

Sun has been having the worst evening, and that's putting it nicely.

As Toy Freddy sits across the table from him, yapping on and on about going "alpha gamer mode" all week on Call of Duty- the "most greatest game for showing off his epic skillz-" and how he "mega rage quit when a total hacker wiped him and his team," Sun stares out the window and longingly imagines at least one of the cars driving past suddenly careening into the restaurant and hitting him. Or Toy Freddy.

Or even Moon, who has been manning the counter and snickering to himself this entire time, aside from when he vaults it to rush over and stop his brother from walking out of the building. Which he has tried several times, especially when Hatsune Miku came for a "speed date," TWICE.

To be more accurate to his experience this evening, it's been torturous and humiliating. First there was a wet floor bot that Sun could not understand, but worse yet, it couldn't understand him, either. So in his struggle to try and explain that he couldn't understand it and did not even want a partner, he lost his temper and snapped at the poor thing, sending it off with a lot of clicky whirrs that sounded like crying. Moon had a lot of fun lording that over his head.

Next was Rockstar Chica. Honestly, she wouldn't have been so bad if she didn't chew her food with her mouth open and make a huge mess. Sun is sure he would have gotten sick if he was physically capable of it, so after she left he switched tables and made Moon clean up the mess. Then came the first Miku visit where she blabbered endlessly about her headcanons regarding their relationship while Moon laughed himself to tears. And she didn't even stay away when her time was up, she just stood outside the door for a minute, scared off the next person coming around, and then came back. Which made Moon laugh even harder.

At long last, Sun is broken out of his stewing by the familiar, grating beep of the alarm going off, and Moon clicks his tongue. "Aw, dang. Sorry, Toy Freddy, your time is up."

"D'aw, nads! I was just gedding to the best part of the story!" The bear laments, then he reaches out and offers his hand to Sun, who begrudgingly shakes it only to recoil as he realizes the other's somehow-sweaty hand is covered in Cheeto dust.

Where in the fuck did he get Cheetos from? This is a Chili's! If Toy Freddy noticed his obvious disgust, Sun doesn't care. He just wipes his hand off on a napkin as the bear lumbers away and out the door.

"So, whaddya thinkin', Sun? I bet you really felt the sparks flyin' just now!" Moon remarks, smirking as his brother silently stares daggers at him. "I'm thinking a spring wedding, personally. You can make the theme Fortnite and have a powdery orange color, like the napkin!" The daycare attendant remains silent, strumming his fingers against the table as his stare bores into the other. Moon is hardly bothered. "C'mooon, you can't tell me you haven't felt a little romance with the folks coming all this way to see you."

Sun scowls at that and mutters lowly, "Moon, I have told you that I am not interested in having a romantic relationship with anyone. I don't have a crush on Roxanne or anyone else, and unless Prince Charming comes in singing while ready to save this shitty evening, I am never going to fall in love again!"

The other puts his hands up in surrender and steps back. "Yikes. You have issues you need to work through, brother." Then he hears the doors open and shut, turning that way and grinning as he sees a Staff Bot wheel itself in. "Ah, but for now, back to the show! Oop-" He looks back to Sun with a conniving grin. "Apologies, I mean back to the speed dates."

The daycare attendant hisses quietly and rubs his eyelids as the Staff Bot wheels over to the table, greeting in a monotone voice, "Hello. I am here to whoo you with my charisma and wit." Then it wheels over to the other side of the table, trying and failing to squeeze in between the table and the seat. It just repeatedly bumps into both pieces of furniture and shifts the table out of place. Sun continues to rub his eyelids, once again longing for a car to-

He's startled out of his thoughts by the doors slamming open as a familiar voice yells out, "I OBJEEECT!"

When he and Moon look, both animatronics are shocked to see Ruin standing there, striking an incredibly dramatic pose and wearing what looks like the vest from Comedy Bot that works surprisingly well for him. But just when they're sure his theatrics have reached their peak, he starts to sing.

"Oooh, Iiii ain't a stranger to your thorns- think I'm a damseeel, now you get the horns!" Grinning brightly, the former theater attendant looks to Sun and winks as he continues. "Lay low, my dear, I'll get you outta hereee! I ain't a damsel, I'll make that cleeeear!"

Moon blinks, positively baffled by this development, then he startles when Ruin jumps forward and slams his palm on the counter, almost sneering at him. "Just tryyy to stop the reckonin' that's comin', lay down your head, boy, can't you hear those beats a drummin'? Be that as it may, by death do us paaart- think fast 'cuz I'm gonna tear out your heaaaaaaaart!"

He glares at the other with a scowl, especially as he hears Sun giggling at the mangled animatronic's crazy antics. "Do you mind? We're in the middle of something," He mutters.

"I do, actually, thank you for asking," Ruin replies with a smug look, then he condescendingly pats Moon's head and quickly retracts his hand when the other tries to slap it away. "Giddy up, little bitch boy, you're deeead, giddy up little bitch boy, you're deeeeead!" He then turns and struts over to the Staff Bot, linking their arms and starting to pull it along to the counter. "You triiied to take him like you didn't knooow he was miiine and taken, now reap what you soooooow!"

"What in the High School Musical is this. You are so weird, I am getting out of here," It remarks, pulling its arms back and wheeling away towards the door. Ruin is wholly unbothered by this, grinning and waving sarcastically.

"Bye byeeee, don't let the door hit you on the way out!~" When he turns back, he raises his brows at the sight of Sun standing nearby, watching him with a fond smile. He smiles back and takes his friend's hand while looking to Moon. "You triiied to mock him like you didn't knooow he was miiine and guarded, now reap what you soooooo-oooow!" On the final note, Ruin spins Sun around before stooping him into a low dip, much to the surprise of both brothers.

Moon stares at them both, mouth agape, while Sun slowly starts to laugh, gently gripping onto the mangled animatronic's shoulders as he's pulled upright. "Oh my stars, Ru! You're absolutely crazy, you know that?"

"Guilty as charged, my dear!" Ruin chimes proudly. "After all, what's life without a little insanity and spontaneously bursting into song?"

"You know what? That's an excellent point. It's definitely a lot more mind-numbingly aggravating otherwise- speaking of which, your timing is impeccable. I swear, I was ten seconds from just murdering someone, eheh," Sun jokes with a half-hearted laugh. Ruin looks at him with a sympathetic frown.

"Let me guess, this really was just another ridiculous prank from... A certain someone?" He mutters, cutting Moon a dirty look out of his peripherals and receiving an exasperated eye roll in return.

"Not my fault you don't have the sense of humor necessary to appreciate this. Trust me, it's funny when you don't have a stick up your goddamn ass."

"You know what, you're right! It's so hilarious that we should play this exact same prank on someone else now. Let's give you a taste of your own medicine! Wouldn't that be funny?"

"No," He hisses. "I don't do relationships, I'm aroace!"

"I don't do relationships either anymore, but you still played this stupid prank on me!" Sun snaps, glaring as Moon grimaces and looks aside. "Honestly, why do I even bother expecting any sense of understanding from you anymore? You don't even care about how I feel and if I actually enjoy being pranked or not, you just care about yourself and your own amusement!"

"Tch- Sun, that's not true!"

"Yes, it is! You've been pranking me almost non-stop these past few months, and I'm sick of it! But no matter what I say, you just keep laughing at me!" Sun looks to his brother, rays lowering as his brows furrow with distress. He wants so badly to explain how much it honestly hurts that Moon keeps pushing his boundaries and using him as a personal clown, but his shoulders slump with the realization that nothing he says will even matter. He lets out a weary sigh and turns away, murmuring, "Forget it. Ruin, can we just go home now?"

"Of course, dear," Ruin replies softly, gently linking his arm with Sun's as they head to the doors.

Moon watches them go, starting to reach out before he stops himself with his fist clenched, dropping it onto the counter. ... Is he right? Am I really putting my entertainment first and his feelings last? The thought makes him feel nauseous with guilt, but he scowls and quickly shakes his head to clear his thoughts. Even if I am, I don't care. It's not like he's an innocent little victim- he's put his own feelings before mine plenty, this is just payback.

---

"I'm sorry your Valentine's Day was so terrible, Sun," Ruin murmurs as the pair finally makes it back to their room, and he receives a small shrug.

"I wasn't going to celebrate it, anyway. It's just a regularly shitty day," The other mumbles, mustering a brief smile as his friend gently hugs him. "Thank you again for getting me out of there. And for standing up for me..." He sighs softly, then he notices the bag on the dresser and raises a brow. "Hm? What's this? He steps over, peeking inside and finding Fazbrand chocolate boxes and some Fazbrand knock-off Little Debbie Valentine's snack cakes. He looks back at Ruin with clear confusion, met with a sheepish smile.

"Ah... About that, um. Earlier, I- I was looking for you so we could hang out- I know you weren't going to celebrate! But I thought we could, uh, do that fun, single bachelor thing where we indulge in the discounted candies and snacks while watching the Aristocats, or- or any movie of your choice! Or playing games!" He perks up a bit and clasps his hands together. "I really don't mind what we do, I'm just happy to spend time with you!"

"Oh. Oh, Ruin," Sun murmurs, unable to help a smile of his own spreading across his face as his servos whirr softly in his chest. "That sounds wonderful. I'd love to spend all evening hanging out with you and watching movies."

Hearing that makes the mangled animatronic hop up and down with glee. "Ahh, brilliant! I'm so happy to hear that, Sun! You just sit back and relax, okay? I'll get everything set up!"

"Heh, okay," He replies as he climbs into bed, sitting near the wall and slipping his legs under the covers while Ruin switches on the fairy lights strung up in the room before shutting off the main light. Then he shuts the door and grabs Sun's laptop, joining him in bed as he plays the movie.

It really is a nice way to end the evening. As they watch the Aristocats and other sweet, comforting movies, Sun leans against Ruin and indulges himself on sweets, and no one even comes to bother them.

After a while, as Ruin switches to the next movie, Sun slips his hand into the other's and feels a soft, thrumming warmth in his chest as the gesture is met with a comforting squeeze.

Chapter Text

"Hehehe... Hey, Sun," Ruin pipes up, tittering drunkenly as he looks up at his companion. "I- wanna hear somethin' silly that I- hic- remembered?"

Sun finishes the canister of battery acid he'd been drinking from with a sharp breath, throat and chest burning even as his systems hum in contentment. "Mmh- yeah? What is it?" He asks, looking down where the mangled animatronic's head lays in his lap.

"The first time I saw your face was- wasn't actually when I met you. I saw you on a big ol' screen!"

"On a?..." It takes him a minute to figure out what he means. "Oh, uh, you mean a Sunnydrop ad?"

"Yeah! Yeah, that. I remember it was after hours, when everyone was asleep and the lights were all out." Ruin closes his eyes as he reminisces, giggling a bit. "And I finally came out of hiding 'cause I was real hungry, and- hic- and I hadn'a had a good butcher's at the screen in the daycare, so when I saw another one near the bakery and got a good look, I just stopped entirely..."

Sun listens, brows furrowing slightly in confusion. "You just stopped looking for food because of an ad?"

He nods enthusiastically. "Mm-hmm mm-hmm! Because- because I liked it a bunches. It made me shocked because of- of how nice and comforting it was. The preddy colors, your happy smile, and your biiig blue eyes... Preddy eyes." Ruin looks at his now flushed companion, reaching out and gently brushing his claws along the other's cheek. "I remember thinking... About how much I wished I could meet you. Know you. Be your friend. I'm so happy that my wish came true. You're one of my most bestest friends, Sunnydrop..."

"Y- you're one of... My best friends, too, Ruin," Sun murmurs back, gently cupping the hand against his cheek with a tearful smile. "You make me happy and comforted, too."

Ruin smiles even more, a soft purr rumbling in his systems as he strokes his thumb along Sun's cheek. "Hehe... Your face is warm. It's nice."

"Ah, that's probably the battery acid," Sun lies. "You're pretty flushed, too."

"Yeaah, I feel warm. I'ssa good warm, though." He shuts his eyes and lets out a soft, contented sigh. "Being with you always makes me warm." Then he gives a big yawn, stretching out his limbs and holding Sun's hand near his chest. "Mm... I'mma take a nap now."

"Pfft-" Sun giggles despite himself, his smile growing even brighter as he looks down at his friend. "Alright, then. I'll be here when you wake up... Goodnight, Rui."

"G'night, Sunnydrop," Ruin murmurs, slowly starting to doze off with a smile on his face. Sun stares down at him for a few minutes, then he leans back against the wall and stares up at the ceiling, whispering to himself,

"Stars, what am I going to do with my damn wandering heart?"

Chapter Text

"So, how shall we begin the torturesome fun?" Bloodmoon growls lowly, a twisted sneer upon their face-plate as they slowly stalk closer to Sun, like a predator encroaching upon its prey. The daycare attendant staggers back, shaking uncontrollably even as he bares his teeth, mind blank and reeling for a way to save himself.

"We could start with his fingers- rip them off so he can't grab any of his toys!"

"Yes, yes! And then we can break his hands, too!"

"Ohh, I like the way you think, other!"

Bloodmoon cackles with sadistic excitement, lunging at their prey and snarling when he just barely manages to get away.

The spike of adrenaline finally kicks Sun's voice box into gear, but his mind lags so much he's not even aware of his cries until they reach his audio receptors. "Moon! Moon!"

"What?" Moon calls from the loft, sounding tired and extremely annoyed.

"Help!" Sun yells back, then he yanks his arms up to shield his face as Bloodmoon swings their claws at him, gouging deep wounds dripping black. He lets out a choked cry that sounds like a wounded animal- it's so loud in his audio receptors that he doesn't hear the sound of something crashing into the ballpit.

"Help isn't coming, you pathetic whelp!" They laugh, bringing a claw to their face to lick away the oil staining it. "No one will save you from suffering at our hands, and then when the time is right, we'll finally repay the favor of what you did to us!"

Sun's stomach sinks as icy cold overcomes him. Their meaning isn't lost on him. He stands frozen as they step forward, spiraling eyes shining with excitement.

"That's right, don't even bother trying to run, it's time to reap what you've sown! No one will save you from our claws!"

Bloodmoon lunges straight for him, but their claws don't even come close enough to make a scratch before Ruin rushes into the fray, slamming into them with the force of a truck. They cry out in shock and stumble back, looking at him with a scowl. "Who are you?! Get out of our way, you broken wretch, or else you'll be the next lamb we lead to slaughter!"

"Stay away from him," Ruin seethes, metal claws glinting in the light as they're splayed with violent intent and his eyes alight with a bright violet glow. The sight of it makes Sun's servos whirr in terror. "Or I'll be the one to end your wretched life this time!"

Bloodmoon's eyes narrow furiously. "A broken, mangled thing like you, stopping us? Ha, don't make us laugh! We are the predator, you're mere prey! We rip lambs like you to ribbons with nothing more than our teeth every single-"

Ruin strikes while they're mid-sentence, slamming into them again in a flash of claws and teeth and fury. They scramble to put up their guard and defend against his wild onslaught, throwing him off and hissing as his claws score gouges down their arms. "Damn you!"

The mangled animatronic hits the floor hard and Sun feels his servos stall. "Ruin!" He rushes over as the other is already getting back up, frantically grabbing his arm. "We- we need to run, now!"

"We won't let you get away!" Bloodmoon roars, charging at them both. Ruin shoves Sun behind himself despite the other's protest and charges straight towards them in return, meeting their attack and grappling with them as he digs his feet in, both struggling to gain any traction.

Sun watches in terror, then his gaze darts to the barrels and his systems stutter with cold dread at the thought of using them...

"Don't you dare!" Bloodmoon yells at Sun, seeing where his gaze has been drawn. They try to shove Ruin back to go stop the daycare attendant to no avail, dark claws dug into them relentlessly. Then he shoves them back, trying to knock them off their balance as he snaps his teeth at them, violet drool welling in his mouth.

Bloodmoon kicks him in his right leg, finally bringing him down with a pained snarl. But the mangled animatronic makes sure they go down with them, the two of them continuing to fight violently until Ruin is thrown off again, hitting the nearby playstructure with a sharp cry.

Sun immediately forgets the barrels and rushes over, while Bloodmoon goes to the barrels and crushes them under their foot.

"Ruin!" Sun helps him up, seeing that the other is already getting ready for another strike. "You can't keep fighting like this, they're too strong!"

"If we run, they'll just hunt us down. And I refuse to run after they hurt you," The mangled animatronic grits out, his violet eyes burning furiously as he looks at the gashes in Sun's arms. Then he yanks his arm free of the other's hold and rushes into the fight again.

The daycare attendant watches in horror as Ruin and Bloodmoon fight, seeing just how the virus really affects his friend. The usually sweet, friendly animatronic now acts almost like a rabid animal, clawing and snapping his teeth at them, aiming to bite down and rip them apart. Bloodmoon's chaotic, random attacks barely faze him and they can't manage to get a second strike at his leg- each time they try, his counterstrike only gets more wild and violent.

Ruin lunges forward, snapping again at the limb closest to him. Bloodmoon staggers back and looks at their sleeve, grimacing as they see the tears in the fabric- a narrow miss. "We can't let him get us, other! That purple oozing from his mouth promises bad news!"

"Urgh, I know, I know!" They quickly dodge to the side to avoid his next strike, panting heavily. "How does this mangled wretch have the strength to compete with us?!"

"It must be his ferocity that matches ours, his strength is lesser but it's his ability to keep bouncing back that runs us ragged!"

"I've fought far worse than you for far less," Ruin growls, slowly stalking forward, forcing them backwards. They glance over their shoulder at the wall they're being backed into and curse under their breath.

Sun watches, well aware that Ruin is about to strike to kill if he gets the chance and knowing he needs to act. Now. Shaking off the cold dread that coils in his system, he rushes to the end of the playstructures and grabs one of the stacked barrels, letting the gun in it whirr to life and running back while taking aim.

"Get out of here, Bloodmoon!" He yells, their gaze snapping towards him and fixing on the barrel furiously. "I- I will do it, don't test me!"

The red animatronic snarls and clenches their fists, then they start to inch toward the door. Ruin bristles but before he can do anything Sun snaps, "Ruin, don't!" Reluctantly, he listens and only watches as Bloodmoon slips out of the daycare and runs away. Once he hears the rolling door slam shut, he croaks out, "C- computer, did you s- scan them? Did- can you- can you blacklist them and- and arm lasers when they come back?..."

"Yes, we can," Vis replies.

"Blacklisting Bloodmoon now, and setting up lasers to automatically lock on should they return," Vers adds. Sun lets out a shaking breath, barely able to thank them properly. "... Do you believe you are safe now, Sun?" The AI asks with an edge of uncertainty lacing his usually cool and collected voice.

The daycare attendant looks towards his friend, finding Ruin's violet gaze locked onto him with a sharp intensity... But there's an undeniable worry creasing his brow, and he stays back as he ducks his head. "Sun?..."

"I- I believe I'm safe now, yes," He murmurs, pulling the barrel off his hand and kicking it away before he finally collapses into a heap, sobbing hoarsely. "No, nonono, th- they can't be back, they can't be back!"

Ruin's mechanical heart clenches and he steps forward, wanting to comfort Sun through this, but he stops as a sharp, grating voice yells at him, "Stay the fuck away from him, Ruin!" Moon rushes over, quickly getting between the mangled animatronic and his brother, glaring as Ruin snarls at him.

"Moon, Moon, n- not- don't-" Sun stutters, struggling to speak and struggling to breathe.

"Sun, you can see his eyes, you know he's not safe to be around!" Moon says, glancing at the other and feeling a pang run through him at Sun's state. "Shit, are you okay?"

"Bl- Blood moon is back, Bloodmoon is back!" He whimpers, gasping rapidly for air.

Ruin is desperate to help, growling quietly as more venom fills his tongue, but one glance to Moon tells him he's not going to be allowed close in this state. Damn bastard. How does he have any right to keep me away when he wasn't even here to protect Sun from Bloodmoon?! He growls and hisses, starting to pace back and forth.

"... Computer, arm lasers," Moon mutters as he slowly knees by Sun, watching the mangled animatronic cautiously.

"Arming lasers," Vis responds reluctantly.

"D- don't- don't hurt him," Sun croaks out, digging his claws into the vinyl floor as he struggles to just breathe. He gives a weak, muted sob and shuts his eyes. "Can't breathe, c- can't breathe!"

"Okay, okay, just- Sun, focus on me, eyes on me," Moon whispers, wishing he knew how to help. I've never seen him this bad before! He gently rubs circles into Sun's back, watching helplessly as he gasps hoarsely. He gets so lost in trying to think of some way to help that when a Chica plushie suddenly rolls in front of him he legitimately jumps, his gaze snapping over to Ruin. "What the-?"

"Have him hold that, it will help ground him," The other grits out, pacing again furiously. Like a lion in a cage. Seeing him like this sends chills crawling down Moon's spine and reminds him of just how lucky he was Ruin only punched him to get away.

Carefully, Moon puts the plush into his brother's arms and whispers, "Hold that."

Sun clutches onto the plush immediately, hugging it as tight as he can and sobbing silently. Tentatively, Moon wraps his arms around him and hugs him, trying not to hold on too tight as Sun trembles in his arms. Slowly, Sun's frantic gasps slow to weak breaths, soft wheezes until he whispers, "Th- they came back... How did they come back?..."

"I don't know," Moon murmurs, sighing heavily. All I know is that it's going to be another problem I have to fix eventually. We'll be lucky if they just get blasted by the computer. "I think you'll need to stay up in the loft for a while, Sun."

"It w- won't stop them, it won't stop them f- from coming back for me!"

"If they dare to come back, I'll break them in half before they can even come close," Ruin snarls. "I won't let them hurt you again!"

"The computers have them blacklisted and I'll work on updating the shields," Moon adds, shooting the mangled animatronic a look. Then he glances down at Sun, frowning as he notices the gashes in his arms. "Shit, I didn't even see those before- let's get to parts and services to fix your arms." He pulls Sun up to his feet, quickly adding, "And Ruin, don't follow us! Sit down and get yourself under control!"

Ruin growls lowly, but he only watches as Moon leads Sun away, the bad taste in his mouth getting stronger the farther his friend is taken. When he finally hears the rolling door slam shut again, he brings his hand up to his mouth and bites down hard, ignoring the pain and venom dribbling into the scratch in the metal and making it sting. He only tightens his jaw, fangs scraping deeper, and slowly, the need to bite ebbs into the faint ache in his teeth that it usually is. The anger lingers, though. He's pissed with himself for scaring Sun and for letting Bloodmoon live.

Because I have, now Sun will live in fear of their tyranny until we can stop them. But how in the world did they come back? He looks to the security desk, then his gaze shifts to the discolored part of the floor where Sun said their death was.

His arms still sting with heat from the casing weld. But that pain is secondary to the pain in his chest, the overwhelming dread and terror threatening to rip the breath from his internal ventilation again. Moon lightly pats his shoulder, dragging him back to reality. "Go lay down for a bit, okay? You need your rest after what happened tonight."

"N- no, no, I- I need to- I want to see Ruin first," Sun whispers, his voice weak and strained. "I can't believe I- I didn't even ask if he was okay, t- they threw him around and-!"

"I'm fine, dear," Ruin gently interrupts, and with a soft gasp the daycare's attention snaps towards him. He feels a mix of relief and guilt- relief that Ruin's eyes are back to normal, signifying that the virus spike has passed, and guilt that the other's limp has become more pronounced than usual due to the strain he endured.

"But- but your leg-" He tries, and the other raises a palm to stop him.

"It hurts, yes, but I assure you, it's been worse. I'll be alright once I've rested for a bit. Not to mention, I'd get kicked in the leg a million times to keep you safe, Sun," The mangled animatronic says softly, standing before the pair and giving a brief smile as Sun takes a hold of his hand. "But... I'm sorry. I know I scared you, I was just... I wanted to protect you. I heard you scream for help and it was like a switch flipped in my mind, I was determined to keep you safe no matter what. And, in my experience, running from an aggressor never saves you from harm." He sighs softly, pushing those memories to the back of his mind for now.

"I- I understand," Sun murmurs, looking away from both animatronics. "And I'm sorry I just... Stood there. I froze up and-"

"I don't blame you, nor am I angry. It's better that you kept out of the way and kept yourself safe," Ruin says, gently squeezing Sun's hand and bringing his attention back to that. Sun looks to the cold, endoskeletal hand in his own and notices strange indents in the black metal.

"Did Bloodmoon do that?" He asks quietly, brushing his thumb over the scrapes with worry.

The mangled animatronic looks away, mumbling, "I suppose so. Admittedly, it was a bit of a blur, who was hurting who and all. Everything happened all so fast. All I was really focused on was... Hurting them." He gives a heavy, shamed breath.

"That's not troubling at all," Moon mutters sarcastically, and Sun sighs heavily in exhaustion.

"Moon, can we please not get into this?"

"I'm just saying. I'll grant him that he can control the virus to an extent like he claimed he could. But it was triggered fast and it ramped up his aggression to an unsettling degree. That makes me think that there's a possibility where it gets triggered again and pushes him even farther, to the point that he can't distinguish between friend or foe."

"I understand your concern, but speaking from experience it's not possible for the virus to make me lose my mind to such an extent," Ruin responds, trying to keep calm despite the insinuation that he'd ever hurt Sun pissing him off.

"And you know that for sure? How?"

"Yes, I know it for sure, and the how... It's because I've lived with this damn virus for fifty years, and not once had I ever hurt my allies unless they attacked me first."

At that, Moon's brows furrow and he crosses his arms. "And why did they attack you?"

"Some of them just wanted to fight, didn't care who they broke so long as they got to break someone. Some of them wanted to steal parts and repair themselves. But most of the time, they didn't attack solely because the virus had taken over, they attacked in their "right minds." Not that anyone was ever in their truly right minds in my dimension!" He scoffs bitterly, shaking his head. "We were all under severe stress, pushed to our limits, left in a state of disrepair and at risk of being attacked by "our own."

"So the in-fighting was caused by assholes, not by the virus?" Moon asks to confirm, and Ruin nods. "I see. And I'm guessing the Creator never put a stop to it?"

"Tch, no. He didn't care what we did to each other, as long as we could still fight his damn war."

"Figures..."

Ruin sighs, shifting his weight onto his left foot with a grimace. Both brothers quickly take notice, and Sun murmurs, "How about we all go rest now? We know Ruin isn't going to hurt anyone, and it's getting really late..."

"I like the sound of that, admittedly," Ruin groans quietly, murmuring his thanks to Sun when the other pulls an arm around his shoulders to help support his weight. After that, since there's no argument from Moon, Sun starts to help Ruin back to the loft.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" He whispers.

"I'm sure. It's just some bad pains, nothing I can't manage," He replies, and once they're in the loft, Sun lowers him onto the couch and sits beside him. Ruin pulls his right leg up, checking where he was kicked and then rubbing the dark metal sorely.

The daycare attendant gently rubs his back, eyes soft with guilt and sympathy. "... Thank you for coming to protect me."

Ruin glances back at the other and, seeing his expression, fully turns to face him and gently takes his hand. "You don't have to thank me, dear. I'd do it again and again, a million times over."

"I should be strong enough to protect myself..."

"And you are strong, Sun, but sometimes our strength leaves us when we need it most because of our fear. That doesn't make you weak or cowardly, it just makes you... Human, if that makes sense." He sighs quietly. "We're machines programmed to be human, for better or worse. So please don't be too hard on yourself when anyone would have froze had they been in your shoes."

"I- I'll try," Sun sighs. "But it's hard."

"I know." Silence lingers in the air, then Ruin gently pulls Sun close, hugging him and letting out a shaky breath. "Please don't feel guilty. I don't have any regrets in protecting you nor will I ever, no matter how hurt I get. Broken parts are a familiarity to me, but losing my dearest friend..." He blinks, flashes of broken white casing and black oil spilt everywhere burning in his memory. He hugs Sun a bit tighter. "That's not something I ever want to go through again."

Sun hugs him back, able to hear the pain in Ruin's voice and blinking back tears as his own memories of the old Moon come to his mind. "I know... I don't want to, either. And I hope neither of us will have to. Maybe- maybe Bloodmoon won't come back, o- or the computer can keep them away, and we won't have to fight, or be worried... Stars, I hope we won't." He whimpers quietly, burying his face in Ruin's shoulder as he sobs quietly. The other lets him, gently rubbing his back as he stares at the far wall and loses himself in thought.

I will not let that miserable beast take you from me. He grits his teeth as the ache in his fangs worsens, eyes narrowing. I couldn't protect Chica, and I have to live with that every. Damn. Day. But I will notmake that same mistake twice. If Bloodmoon dares to come back, I will break them.

Chapter Text

"Tell me again why you couldn't have stayed at the daycare for this? It's not safe to leave the computer's range of fire, not with Bloodmoon out on the loose!"

"Because Killcode outright said he wouldn't come to the daycare. He said he's felt on edge as of late and has been avoiding going into the city unless he absolutely has to- he's even had all his essentials just delivered to a location on the outskirts of the city and took them home from there. And I don't think we'll be in too much danger traveling by car, Moon. If Bloodmoon somehow managed to cross our path, I could just drive as fast as needed to evade them and get them off our tail," Sun explains, adjusting his grip on the wheel and briefly glancing at Ruin as the other mutters,

"Or just run them over like the mongrel they are."

"I never thought I'd say this, but I like Ruin's idea better."

Sun sighs. "If worse comes to worse, then I'll try, but I doubt it would stop them. They came back from being disintegrated and reduced to nothing. Do you really think running them over would work? It doesn't even help in horror movies."

"It would slow them down at the very least."

"I suppose. But that's not necessary now- we've reached the woods," The daycare attendant states, slowing to a stop near the path into the forest. "I'll text you when we we're heading home."

"Hhff, alright. Remember to stay alert, you two."

"We will," Ruin states, peering through the windows cautiously while Sun starts to unbuckle.

"Bye, Moon."

"Bye," The other says, hanging up shortly after. Sun sighs wearily and climbs out, rounding to the other side of the car to help Ruin out as well.

"You're sure you're up for walking through the woods?" He asks, looking at the mangled animatronic's right leg nervously.

"I'm sure. As you said yourself, it won't be a long walk. And, admittedly... I'm used to traversing wild terrain like this," Ruin murmurs, his gaze shifting out toward the woods as he recalls his time spent living in the remains of the city after it was overrun by nature's relentless grip. Sun nods in understanding, linking his arm with the other's as he leads the way. "So, would you be comfortable with telling me more about Killcode? I remember you said he was a part of the old Moon's AI as the "homicide code," and that he reformed after their separation, but that's admittedly all I know about the man..."

The daycare attendant nods a bit. "I don't mind, I honestly should have told you more about him a bit sooner, it's just... Complicated. KC is an acquaintance and the one who taught me how to harness Star power and he was Bloodmoon's "parent," of sorts. I don't really know the full story, he wouldn't talk much about it."

"I see. Do you think he might have had some part to play in Bloodmoon's revival, then?"

"No, honestly. His change of heart was genuine, so if he did bring Bloodmoon back by some chance, I don't think he'd let them run free to cause harm."

Ruin nods in understanding, looking ahead as they reach a clearing in the woods where a large RV sits. A fire pit and some other things are set up around it, and the duo spots Killcode himself sat at the fire pit, offering a friendly smile to them. "I thought I your voice in the woods. It is good to see you, Sun. And it is nice to finally meet you, Ruin. Would you care for some tea?"

Ruin is a bit taken aback- by the other's towering size and his deep, rumbling cadence but also by how friendly the larger animatronic is. He smiles in turn and replies, "Tea would be absolutely lovely! And it's a pleasure to meet you as well, Killcode."

"It's good to see you," Sun adds, walking with Ruin to the fire pit and sitting down on one of the logs with his companion. The latter gratefully accepts the cup of tea and sips at it, while the former declines to take a cup for himself. "I hope you don't mind if we get to business first, then we can chat after?"

Killcode nods in understanding. "That is fine by me. Especially considering you seem fairly troubled. Is everything alright?"

He sighs softly and answers, "Truthfully, no. Something happened last week and though I don't think you have any involvement in it, I hope you might be able to help us a bit... To cut to the chase, Bloodmoon is back."

The large animatronic remains outwardly calm, though Ruin notes the subtle tensing of his jaw and slowly sets his cup down.

"How is that possible?"

"We don't know," Sun says quietly. "They just showed up at the daycare and attacked. Then they got away because we weren't able to properly stop them without- without certain measures I didn't want to take."

"Killing them," Killcode says, not a question but a statement. The daycare attendant nods slowly.

"I couldn't do it again. Not after what it caused last time. I couldn't let anyone else do it, either..."

"I understand. I do not blame you for your decision, Sun, and I will not blame you if you make that same choice in the future. I of all people would never ridicule you for your pacifism."

"Thank you..."

"But seeing as you stand on the road of pacifism, I strongly advise you not to seek out Bloodmoon in any manner, whether to capture them or try to convince them to reform," He states sternly, red eyes narrowing. "If they have already sought you out once in the name of vengeance, it is clear they have no intention to ever change. Reasoning with them isn't an option. So stay away from them."

"But Moon said- I mean, t- the old Moon said-"

"Sun." Killcode reaches out and puts a firm hand upon Sun's shoulder, meeting his gaze without faltering. "The old Moon was caught up in delusion. He said they could change, that they were like him, but he was wrong. They are not like him, nor will they change as he did. I know Bloodmoon better than Moon ever did, and I know that they always loved violence and slaughter. Never regretted it, never faltered, never just saw it as survival. They saw it as a game. A game they will force you to play until they win if you try to seek them out again."

"I don't know Bloodmoon, personally, but I know the type of creature Killcode describes," Ruin speaks quietly, a distant look in his mismatched eyes. "They don't kill to survive. They kill for the enjoyment, for the thrill." He turns back to Sun, expression grim. "Don't try to reason with them. It will not end well."

Sun looks between them both, his rays slowly retracting as he murmurs, "Is there really no chance they could change?"

"I do not think so," Killcode mutters, gently squeezing the daycare attendant's shoulder before retracting his hand. Ruin gently holds one of Sun's after, adding softly,

"And that is not your fault, dear. You are not responsible for what Bloodmoon is- from the sounds of things, they were always this way."

"They were. From the moment they were created, they only wanted violence. Craved carnage. And I of all people can tell you, even with such a programmed urge driving you, it is possible to turn away and choose to be better," Killcode says, closing his eyes with a soft sigh. "I believe you know it as well, Sun."

"I do. Thanks to Moon. And thanks to you as well. You're the homicide code itself that manifested into a sentient AI, but even then, you... You changed. You gave up killing." He meets the other's gaze. "Then you learned pacifism. You started volunteering to help people in soup kitchens, too."

"And now I will be the one to bear responsibility for Bloodmoon and stop their tyranny, so they can't hurt anyone ever again."

"Wait, what? But- but how? They're impossible to stop without..."

"I do not believe that. They are strong and wild, but I am stronger, and I can devise a plan to stop them. Besides... If they are on the warpath, I believe it is only a matter of time until they come looking for me, and I doubt they will be pleased by who I've become." He sighs and looks off into the woods. "But this is my domain. I know these woods and I know how to protect myself without fighting. Besides... They are my responsibility, even if I no longer call myself their father. They are my devils and I need to lay them down before too many innocent lives are lost to their cruelty." His gaze falls back to Sun. "This is not your burden to bear."

"I still feel like it is."

"I understand. But it still is not. You cannot continue shouldering such burdens, Sun, or you'll soon have no strength left."

He lets out a soft breath, his gaze shifting away as Ruin gently rubs the back of his hand with his thumb. Killcode watches, red eyes rife with sympathy. The instinct he nurtured into himself to care for others and try to ease their burdens stirs, and he murmurs to them, "You two may stay here and try to relax for a bit. I can make more tea and some snacks for us all. And if you stay long enough, you may get to meet a stray dog that lives around here- I like to feed her and give her water, and she's very friendly."

"... That sounds nice," Sun replies, mustering a small smile. "It's very pretty out here, after all."

Ruin nods in agreement, adding, "It's quite peaceful and serene. And I'd love to meet the doggy! Does she have a name?"

"I like to call her Ammy, after the protagonist of an older game I enjoy," Killcode answers, smiling back at them both. Then he pushes himself up with a grunt. "I'll get the snacks and tea real quick. Feel free to look around if you'd like."

"Thank you, KC. I'm gonna step away to call Moon and let him know we're hanging out here for a bit," Sun says, letting go of Ruin's hand and patting it lightly before he walks away. Killcode nods and goes into the RV, then he's the first to return to the fire, a brow raised as he sees the mangled animatronic still sitting alone.

"I suppose Sun must be giving a detailed report of our discussion," He murmurs, setting the tray of snacks and tea on a stump nearby. "Please help yourself, and I hope you enjoy."

"Thank you very much!" Ruin says, picking up one of the cookies and eagerly biting into it. After a moment, he adds, "Moon might be trying to tell Sun to come back early, come to think of it. He wasn't very receptive to the idea of us heading out here to start with- not because of you, but because he doesn't want Sun to be away from the protective measures of the daycare."

"I see. I cannot blame him, knowing how dangerous Bloodmoon is..." Then he frowns, tilting his head slightly. "You said only Sun?... What about you, Ruin? Does Moon not worry for you?"

"No, not really. I'm sure he knows I can protect myself, but I also don't believe he'd be too heartbroken if I were harmed."

Killcode is positively puzzled. "Why not? You're a nice fellow from what I can tell, why would Moon not show any care toward you?"

"... I assume Sun told you of my virus, yes?"

"He has. But he assured me that you have great control over it and I believe him. Not to mention, I have no room to judge you for a violence-inducing affliction you did not ask for." He frowns, eyes dimming slightly. "But I take it Moon must feel differently, then."

"Mm. He thinks I'm too dangerous and a threat to everyone, Sun especially," Ruin sighs softly, and the larger animatronic shakes his head with click of the tongue.

"Seems he suffers the same problem as his predecessor, then. Both the Moons believe they know what's best for Sun better than Sun himself, which just isn't true. And the new Moon is still overprotective, it seems." He then leans forward, gently putting a hand on Ruin's shoulder. "Don't let him get to you. You are good enough for Sun and I can tell how happy you've made just by how he spoke of you over the phone and how comfortable he is seeking comfort from you. Last I saw Sun, he was very closed off and troubled by a great many things."

"Was that back when you taught him to use Star power?"

"It was, yes. I unfortunately don't feel comfortable visiting the daycare often due to... Personal reasons."

"I understand. I was just wondering-" Ruin hesitates, glancing off in the direction Sun left in before whispering to KC, "Did Sun ever say anything of struggling to get along with Moon?"

At that, the large animatronic frowns and tilts his head. "He didn't, no. He simply said he wanted to be the one to harness Star power to keep Moon safe, and he never mentioned anything of having problems with Moon. He was just worried for his brother. Why?"

"I just needed to ask." So it was surely the fight around the Star power trouble that was when their relationship grew strained...

Killcode watches the other's expression, how thoughtful and troubled the mangled animatronic seems, but before he can ask about it Sun returns with a weary look. "Sorry, I didn't mean to step away for so long."

"It's alright, dear," Ruin says gently, smiling as the other sits beside him.

"We were simply chatting while we waited for you," Killcode adds, then gestures to the tray. "Help yourself to the tea and snacks, by the way. And I hope the call went well?"

"Mm. He wasn't really happy about the idea of us hanging out so long, but he said he's glad you're open to helping us deal with Bloodmoon and he said thank you."

"It is simply the right thing to do. And I will keep you both safe while you're here, rest assured," He replies, tipping his head briefly. "Although, I'm surprised he didn't accompany you if he's so worried..."

"He's working on locating Bloodmoon with the computers, is all," Sun mumbles, picking up a cup of tea and sipping from it, sighing softly and relaxing a bit. "This is really good, KC."

"Thank you, Sun. It's lavender tea, it's very good for calming the nerves."

"Heh, I should keep a stash on hand then," He chuckles weakly.

"You can always come to visit and have some with me, if you so wish. Ruin as well," Killcode replies with a warm smile. "I enjoy the company."

"I think I'll take you up on that once the Bloodmoon situation is settled. It's nice out here," Sun says softly, looking around the clearing with a mix of peace and melancholy. "The city can be so loud and overwhelming, I almost forgot what nature sounded like..."

"I like it out here, too," Ruin says softly, leaning against Sun a bit as he nibbles on his cookie. Then he asks KC, "What's living in the RV like, if you don't mind me asking?"

"I don't mind at all, I assure you." He chuckles softly. "It's a bit cramped due to my size but that doesn't detract from how nice it is. It's comforting to have a place of my own to stay, away from the commotion of the city and all the stressors of it. It also gives me freedom to build nice fires when it's cold and I'm even working on cultivating a vegetable garden for the season."

"That sounds lovely! What are you hoping to grow?"

"I'm hoping to grow some carrots, cauliflower and beetroots. It's a bit ambitious, but I think it will work out. I've got the seeds planted, I'm just waiting to see if they'll sprout." He gestures toward the garden, showing the two the little rows of planted seeds.

"Do you enjoy gardening, KC?" Sun asks, looking back to the other.

"I do, yes. It's hard work but it's quite relaxing, and it's nice digging into the soil and getting closer to nature, in a way."

"That does sound very nice," He says, smiling as he looks around the clearing again. Honestly, I wish I could have something like this for myself. A nice, quiet home where I can relax and be at peace, far away from the damn Pizzaplex. Ruin wouldn't have to hide in the loft for hours at a time, either... But that's just a pipe dream, isn't it? I can't run away from my problems, as nice as it sounds.

Killcode watches Sun quietly, studying his expression curiously. Seeing the resignation slip into the other's eyes makes his heart ache and- hoping to gently encourage him- he says, "Moving out here was quite nerve-wracking at first. I worried it might be seen as cowardly, as running from my responsibilities... But truly, there is nothing wrong with taking a step back from what's troubling you and getting some room to breathe."

Sun startles a bit, looking at the other and faltering a bit, at a loss of words. "O- oh... Really?"

"Truly," Killcode confirms softly, smiling at him. "The space helps me to relieve my stress and it means very much to me to have a safe, peaceful space I can return to at the end of the day."

"It must be very lovely indeed," Ruin adds thoughtfully. "A nice home to decorate as you please, plant flowers in the front and back, and- oh, I always adored the idea of having a swingset in the backyard, too!"

Hearing that, the large animatronic looks intrigued. "Oh?"

"Mm-hmm! After the virus took over and I was no longer confined to the Pizzaplex, there were times were I could find reprieve from all the conflict and strife by sneaking off to an old playground and sitting on the swing. I would just swing back and forth for hours, enjoying the breeze and looking toward the sky." His face falls to a bittersweet smile at the memory. "It was my own way of... Making peace for myself, I suppose. And it was even better when Chica could join me. Sometimes we'd chat for hours or just swing in silence, but her presence alone always made it so much better."

Gently, Sun slips his hand into Ruin's and squeezes, allowing the mangled animatronic to rest his head on his shoulder. "That sounds like it was wonderful," He whispers softly. ... Maybe one day, I can make such sweet memories as that with you. A swingset in the backyard sounds... Perfect.

Chapter Text

It's the dead of night, Ruin knows that. He knows that he's laid on the couch for hours now, wide awake but pretending to sleep. Eyes closed and a cushion hugged to his chest. Brows furrowed as his frustration seeps through. The day was long, so long, so tiring, yet he can't bring himself to finally doze off now that he has the opportunity to. Instincts keeping him up, frightened by sleeping in the open. Such a thing would guarantee he'd wake up to claws and violence and pain in the past.

But it's different now, He tries to tell himself. No one here is going to hurt me! Why can't I just-?

His train of thought is derailed by the sound of movement. He stiffens, gripping the cushion tighter, rays twitching as he listens to the sound of fabric rustling. Light footsteps nearby, eyes on him for just a minute... Then the steps move away.

Slowly, he opens one eye and looks toward the source, both eyes opening as he spots Eclipse's silhouette climbing the ladder to the balcony. He watches the other call down the flying wire, hooking it to his back and then lowering himself to the daycare enclosure. I suppose I'm not the only one who can't sleep, He figures, sighing softly and starting to get up. It would be nice to pass this abysmal night with a little chat. If he wishes to, of course.

Ruin makes his way up the ladder to the balcony, looking around for Eclipse and realizing the other's disappeared from view. Wait, where did he go? He tries to call the flying wire for himself but it doesn't respond, still in use. Odd... So he has to climb down the play caging near the wall to get down, struggling to wade through the ballpit and reach one of the bridges out. He sighs and kicks a couple stray balls back in, then he starts to search the darkened daycare for any sign of Eclipse.

Much to his intrigue, he finds that the door of the supply closet now stands open and when he peeks inside, a can of black paint that had been left from an abandoned project in the theater basement is now gone. He tilts his head with intrigue, then his rays snap upright as he hears one of the rolling doors briefly open before it sounds like it's locked in place. His curiosity growing, Ruin follows the sound and quietly ducks under the small opening in the rolling door just in time to see Eclipse disappearing into the back hallway that leads to the basement.

Oh, dear. Don't tell me he's going to finish the project the humans started? The mangled animatronic sighs to himself and heads that way, making it to the staircase and gripping the railing as he heads down. He has to take it slow to avoid aggravating his bad leg, but he makes it down without much problem. However, what he spots at the bottom of the staircase makes his brows shoot and he sputters, "E- Eclipse? What in heaven's name did you do?"

Eclipse whips around to face the other, yellow eyes wide and standing stark against the pitch-dark paint now covering his entire upper body. "Ruin?! Where did you- when did you get here?!" He hides the empty paint bucket behind his back like a kid trying to hide the cookie they took from the jar, embarrassed to be caught like this and apprehensive of what Ruin may say.

"Admittedly, I just got down here. I heard you get up and I wanted to talk, because I assumed you couldn't sleep, either," Ruin answers, rubbing the back of his neck as he looks the other over. "I suppose that's still true, but for a different reason than mine. Um... Are you okay? What's all this about?"

The pitch-painted animatronic falters at that, surprised that he's being asked after rather than mocked. But why? You know Ruin isn't like everyone at home. No one here is. Why do you always assume the worst of them? He lets out a soft sigh, more shame creeping in. "It's just- this is going to sound ridiculous, but I... Don't like how I look."

Immediately, the mangled animatronic steps away from the staircase, his expression colored in concern. "That doesn't sound stupid at all, I assure you. I understand what you mean completely. But if I may ask, what is it that's causing this?" He asks gently, genuinely wanting to figure out the root of the problem so he can help. Eclipse's eyes soften as he's met with such kindness, then his gaze drifts away as he murmurs,

"I look like the other one- the evil Eclipse. And everyone who sees me thinks I'm him, they get scared of me. I can't even blame them, but it... Hurts. Especially when I sent Lunar into- into damn near a panicattack the other day because- because I look like this. Like his abuser. Like his murderer. I kept thinking and thinking and thinking about it these past few days, especially tonight, and- and I remembered the black paint in the supply closet-" He looks down at the can still held in his hands, now almost wholly empty aside from the paint clinging to the sides and bottom. "So I just... Gave into the impulse to fix myself."

The mangled animatronic looks down at the can as well, then he musters a small smile and puts a hand on the other's forearm. "I understand. And I for one support your new look, especially if it makes you feel more comfortable in your own body."

Despite himself, Eclipse starts to smile as well, his grip on the can relaxing as he does. "Thank you, Ruin. I truly appreciate it... Ah, but I probably look goofy, don't I?" He frowns again and looks at himself, at the splattered, dripping paint running down his chest and biceps. Not to mention it's staining his bandanna and coveralls- God, I should have taken this stuff off before doing this. How stupid am I?

"Honestly, I think it's rather charming!" Ruin says, both in earnest and trying to coax a smile back to the other's face. "If you don't mind me saying, you look like a sleek, black cat. Like- what was the fellow's name? Oh, yes- like Thackery Binx!"

"Thackery Binx? Right, Hocus Pocus. Thackery," He echoes as his brows furrow thoughtfully. "You know, I actually always liked that name a lot. It's a bit dated but nice."

At that, Ruin's brows raise in surprise. "Oh? Did you want to change your name as well, then?"

"I- I want to, but I probably shouldn't, should I? My name is fine, it's just... It carries a bad connotation here," He mumbles, ducking his head a bit. "I shouldn't just change it on a whim..."

The mangled animatronic sighs softly, speaking more seriously now. "You don't have to if you still like your name as it is now, but if you don't like it, you have every right to change it. I of all people understand not wanting to carry a name you don't identify with anymore, for whatever reason that may be."

At that, the other lifts his head and regards his companion with confusion. "You... Understand?"

"Ah-" Ruin falter, then he shakes his head a bit and mumbles, "Well, um, my name wasn't always Ruin, admittedly, but that's- er, there are mirrors in the rooms down here," He says, starting to limp toward the nearest makeup/dressing room. "Why don't you look and see your new appearance? Black really is your color!"

"Oh, um... Sure." He follows the mangled animatronic into the dressing room as the light turns on. Then he looks to the mirror and goes still, eyes widening as he looks at his new reflection. "... I really do look like a cat, huh?"

"Quite so! And do you like it?"

"I do, actually," He murmurs, stepping closer to the mirror as he keeps looking at himself. "I just realized that this is the first time I actually was able to have any say in how my body looks, too. Every other time, it's been Moon- the other Moon- transferring me into whatever spare body's on hand just to get me out of his way."

Ruin's eyes soften with sympathy at that, rays lowering. "I'm sorry that you had to be treated that way, my friend..."

"Er- n- no, it's f- it's not your fault," He mumbles, shaking his head. "Sorry, I'm not trying to throw a pity party for myself."

"It's not a pity party to acknowledge that you had your autonomy robbed from you for most of your life," Ruin points out without missing a beat, and the other turns to look at him in shock before he quietly turns away, unsure of what to say. "It's not self-pitying or whiny to acknowledge that someone treated you like shit, either," The mangled animatronic adds bitterly, turning his own gaze away as he crosses his arms over his chest.

"... Right," He slowly admits, and the silence weighs heavy over them until he finally thinks of how to break it, asking quietly, "So, do you... Think the others would mind if I changed my name?"

"No, of course not," Ruin answers, his voice softening as he turns back to his companion. "They care for you very much, regardless of your name and appearance. And I'm sure they'd be happy to support any change that made you feel more comfortable with yourself." He steps over to the other's side, putting a hand on his forearm to reassure him as he smiles.

"Thank you, Ruin," He murmurs back, taking a deep breath as he tries to really let the other's reassurance sink in. "I want to do it. I don't want to be Eclipse anymore. So... I'm going to change my name. And- and would you stand by me while I tell the others tomorrow?"

"Of course."

The next morning, Ruin gathers the celestial family in the main room of the loft, all of whom react with a fair deal of surprise to seeing their mechanic companion wearing a new coat of paint.

"Eclipse, what on earth happened?" Moon asks, raising a brow as he looks the other over. "Do you need help washing that off?"

"I'd rather not," The pitch-painted animatronic murmurs, ducking his head. Ruin puts a hand on his shoulder and smiles encouragingly. He sits up and takes a deep breath, his voice a bit louder as he adds, "I actually don't want to look like this- how I look under the paint, I mean. I- I don't want to be called Eclipse anymore, either..."

Lunar's expression promptly twists with guilt, and he asks, "You don't have to change who you are, you know. I- I'm sorry, I just wasn't ready to see you like this the other day, but I know you're... You. That you're not him."

"It's not your fault, Lunar. This is something I've been thinking about for a long time now," The mechanic says softly, shaking his head a bit. "I just don't feel like myself with how I looked before. Honestly, I didn't even feel like myself before this body. When I- when I... Was in the backup body for my world's Sun." He looks down and slowly pulls off his gloves, looking at his hands- fully painted black last night with Ruin's help. "I told Ruin about it last night, but this is the first time I actually had a say in how my body looks. Before, it was only the other Moon choosing for me. And I- I know I look like a mess, but I actually like how I look now." Hesitantly, he looks back to the others and finds them all sharing sympathetic looks.

"If you want to do this and you're happier now, then that's all that matters," Lunar says with the utmost sincerity, mustering a small smile to give his friend.

"Wish you'd told us sooner, man," Moon says with a frown. "We would have gotten you anything you needed to change and feel more comfortable in your body."

"Really?" The mechanic murmurs. "So you guys... Really don't mind me just- just changing everything out of nowhere?"

"Of course not. You're our friend, and it's your body. Why should we stand in the way of something harmless that makes you feel better?"

"And we want you to have a better life here than you did back in your original dimension," Sun adds firmly, putting a hand on the other's shoulder for a moment. "That means we want you to be comfortable and free to make your own choices."

"... Thank you, Sun," He says quietly, trying to hide how his chest aches with a mix of comfort and grief. It's not the same Sun. It's not the same Sun. This doesn't mean the one you killed would just... Forgive you.

The pastel animatronic smiles kindly. "You don't have to thank me. It's what community is for."

"Damn straight," Moon agrees as Lunar nods emphatically.

"You're practically a part of the family. We want you to feel safe and happy with us," The little bot says softly, getting up from the couch and going to hug his friend. The mechanic gives a shaky smile, hugging him back tightly as he blinks back tears.

Noticing this, Ruin pats his back and murmurs, "So, don't leave them in suspense, my good man! Why not tell them what you'd like to be called from here on?"

At that, Sun and Moon perk up with intrigue while Lunar looks up at the other's face. The mechanic pauses, sniffling. "Oh, r- right." He softly clears his throat before he looks between the three, a bit nervous but smiling as he explains, "Well, last night Ruin said I reminded him of Thackery Binx from, ah, Hocus Pocus, and I really like the name Thackery, so- so it's kind of odd, but... I'd like to go by Thackery now."

Though he expected some confusion, perhaps a bit of ridicule or light mocking for picking a dated name like that, the others simply nod in understanding, and Lunar chimes, "I like it! It really does suit you, especially now."

"And honestly, it's no stranger than going by the name Ruin, my good man," Ruin points out with a light chuckle and reassuring smile.

"Exactly, it's a perfectly normal name, just a bit antiquated. But it's good," Moon says, smiling at his friend.

Sun looks at Ruin, a bit concerned as he quietly asks, "You don't mind still being called that, right? Ruin?..."

"Oh, of course not! I was just saying, for us animatronics, anything is pretty much a natural name, yes? Besides, aha... I really can't think of a name that suits me better," The mangled animatronic replies, waving his palm dismissively.

"Alright. But if that changes, you can tell us..."

"I know, dear. Thank you," Ruin says softly, reaching out to hold the other's hand. Moon rolls his eyes and turns away from them, back to the mechanic.

"So, Thackery, do you want us to order in some extra supplies to finish up your new paint job? And if you want to get new clothes, we can do that, too."

Hearing his new name being addressed to him coaxes an honest smile from the mechanic, an unfamiliar but welcomed sense of care and comfort washing over him. Though, he has to consider the question for a moment. "I would definitely appreciate getting some extra paint, at least for some touch-ups. I'm... Not really sure about the clothes, though. I mean, my clothes are still fine for work, they're just, well, paint-stained. It would've happened eventually, I'm sure."

"Well, what about clothes for not working?" Moon asks.

"Um... I don't know, I wouldn't want to ask for too much," Thackery says, tone laced with uncertainty. Everyone looks at him with a frown.

"Asking for new clothes isn't "too much," Lunar mumbles, hugging the other a bit more.

"Exactly. You don't have to get anything if you don't want to, but we have plenty of money for it and you deserve to have more than just work clothes to wear," Sun adds gently. "So if you want anything at all, you can just tell us. I promise it's not too much."

"Oh. I- I see... Thank you fo- for saying that," The mechanic murmurs, his gaze darting away from everyone as he ducks his head.

Ruin studies the other's body language, then he mouths to the others, I think we're overwhelming him a bit.

Realizing that, Sun and Moon exchange worried glances, and the former takes a breath before speaking gently, "You don't have to thank me. But again, you don't have to if you don't want to, and... In the meantime, we'll just let you think about it, and you can get back to us when you're ready. For now, we should start getting ready for work, I think."

"Right. It's- it's near that time, isn't it?" Thackery quickly glances to a clock, then he stands once Lunar's let him got and gotten up. "I should get to the theater."

"And we'll be getting down to the daycare," Moon says, stepping over and patting the other's shoulder. "See you around lunch, if any Karens give you a hard time again, call me and I'll handle it."

"Alright. Thanks, Moon," He replies, smiling a bit. The daycare attendants leave the loft and head downstairs while he hangs back, then he turns to Ruin and adds quietly, "Thank you, too, Ruin. I don't think I would have been brave enough to tell them on my own."

"Don't mention it, my good man, I'm happy to help a friend!"

Thackery smiles softly and nods. "It means a lot to me. And... If there's anything I can ever do to repay the favor, please let me know."

At that, the mangled animatronic's expression turns serious again. "This was no favor for me to cash in, I assure you. I wanted to help you, and I don't expect any "reward" for it."

"Are you- are you sure?" After the other nods, his gaze shifts to his feet and he mumbles, "It- it doesn't feel right to let your kindness go unrepaid."

"Thackery, you don't have to do something for me to know my kindness is appreciated. I knew it was the moment I saw your smile today. Making you so happy is reward enough for me," Ruin says, holding the other's hand and squeezing it gently. "You don't owe me anything. I'm truly just happy to help a dear friend."

"Oh," Thackery croaks out, his throat suddenly feeling very tight. The mangled animatronic's expression softens as he hears it, and he opens his arms- an invitation, nothing forced. Hesitantly, he accepts the gesture, letting Ruin wrap him in a gentle hug. "... I'm glad to have a friend like you, Ruin."

"And I'm glad to have a friend like you, Thackery. Everyone in this daycare is glad to have you, please don't forget it."

Chapter Text

"I told you why what you did on Valentines pissed me off so much," Sun states quietly, continuing to scrub at the craft table to get up all the stuck-on glitter glue. "You knew how I felt about relationships. You still know. But you forced me into that anyway, kept me from leaving, and laughed. I was having a terrible evening and you thought my discomfort and anger was funny. I'm not a brother to you, I'm just a clown."

"Can you stop being so dramatic about it, Sun? It was just a prank, and you're acting like I kicked your cats!" Moon protests, crossing his arms over his chest.

"It's the latest prank of many that have made me feel like shit for your amusement."

"Did it ever occur to you that you're just being sensitive?"

Sun throws the towel down and stands, turning to glare at the other as he starts to shake in a mix of anger and hurt. "Multiple times, in fact. Which is why I never started to really push back against you until now. Because yes, maybe I am a sensitive person. Why does that invalidate my hurt?"

Moon falters at that, his gaze darting aside as he purses his lips. "It's just jokes, Sun. Harmless pranks."

"No, they're not. They're not even funny to anyone but you and you know it. And they always just make me feel... Horrible. Sometimes it takes me hours just to calm down back to neutral, and even then I still feel shaky, and- and raw, and I get genuinely nervous to leave my room because I don't want to go out and run into you. Because if you made another joke or drag me into another prank, then I know I'd lose it and either cry or snap, and I don't want that! Especially because you- you wouldn't even care." He lets out a shaking breath, rays pulling in as he clenches his fists and struggles to reign in his emotions. "I know you wouldn't, that's why you're so comfortable pulling all these pranks on me and laughingwhen I get upset. That's why you're brushing it off when I tell you how it hurts."

Silence. Moon doesn't say anything or even turn to face Sun again. He just keeps his gaze down, brows furrowed and expression tense.

The daycare attendant sighs softly. "I don't know what to do, Moon. Talking to you feels impossible- it's either petty insults, fighting about Ruin, or pranks."

"It's- it's not always-"

"It's enough that it's a legitimate problem between us. Can you at least own up to that much?"

"... Yeah." He reluctantly looks back to Sun but his body language hardly changes. Sun stares back at him, waiting to see if he'll say anything more to no avail.

Then he simply mutters, "I'm going to move out."

Moon's eyes widen and his arms drop to his sides. "What?"

"I've been thinking about it for months now, since I first visited KC to warn him about Bloodmoon. He said that having a place away from the city and away from the stress to go to was really good for him, and I frankly think it will be good for me, too."

"So, what, you're just- you're just going to run away and leave the burden of this entire shitshow on me?!"

"Obviously not, I just want to buy a house so I have somewhere to decompress after work. I wouldn't just abandon everyone and the daycare," Sun responds sternly as his eyes narrow. "I'm not running away from my responsibilities, I'm trying to improve my quality of life so I can better handle them. Because, to be frank with you, I can't do this anymore. I can't handle another day of your bullshitbecause for you it's easier to behave like a child than have an actual fucking conversation about whyyou hate me."

Moon's frown only deepens and he scoffs. "I am not behaving like a child."

"Of course that's what you focus on..." The daycare attendant shakes his head and turns back to the craft table, crouching down and starting to scrub at it again.

"Okay, okay, fine. You need your space, I get that, but how am I supposed to believe you won't just stay gone when the next bout of trouble shows up?"

"Because even though you wouldn't even let me help if more trouble comes back anyway, I refuse to abandon everyone. Lunar, Thackery, Vis and Vers... I care about them all and I wouldn't just leave them."

Initially, Moon had to bite back a resigned sigh at that first jab- frustrating in its accuracy, because he'd sooner seek out Thackery's or Killcode's or even Ruin's help before relying on Sun. But the latter half processes and he cocks his head to the side. "And what about Ruin in all that? You care about him so much but he's not on your "never abandon them" list?" Sun goes still mid-scrub. Moon knows exactly why. "You're taking him with you if you move."

"When. But yes, I am," Sun mutters, glancing at the other over his shoulder. "It gets him much needed space from you, too. Because you're not subtle about hating him, either. I don't trust for a second that you wouldn't force him back through the portal in the middle of the night when I was gone."

"Well, I won't lie and say he still pisses me off, but I wouldn't go as far as to kick him out now. Especially since he's actually helpful when shit falls apart around-"

Bang!

He jumps at the abrupt sound of a fist banging against the table, Sun shoving himself up and whipping around to face the other as he snaps, "Well maybe I could be helpful if you would actually let me help! Have you ever thought of that?!"

"I- shit, I didn't mean-!"

"Oh, bullshit, you did mean it! You just didn't mean to say it, but whose fault is it that I can't help?! Who is it who said he doesn't need my help?!"

Moon grimaces, well aware he can't close the can of worms he just opened as Sun continues yelling at him.

"I tried in the past and you got angry at me! You made it clear that you didn't want me to do it again and you've been adamant against keeping me out of the fray! You even told me you won't let me take on anything more than blasting Eclipse into the, I remember that!" He grabs his rays in anger, pulling on them hard as he continues. "Do you think I like this?! That I enjoy not being able to help you with the problems me and the Old Moon caused?! D- do you think I like being fucking useless to you?!"

I just had to open my fucking mouth, Moon thinks, shaking his head a bit and flinching as the other snaps,

"OBVIOUSLY NOT! I feel guilty every fucking day for being a burden on you and everyone I love and I would love to be more useful in any way I can without having to suffer being- being your fucking circus animal! And clearly you want me to be helpful, too, so why won't you just let me help?!"

He can't bring himself to speak, his gaze falling to the floor as he feels Sun's anger with him growing.

"Just admit it, you don't think I can do it! If you're going to hate me for being useless, have the fucking bolts to admit it!"

"I- I don't think you're useless, that's not it!" He sighs sharply and drags a hand down his face, struggling to put it into words. "I do want your help. You're right about that... But every time I even consider calling on you to help, it- I just feel wrong. My codes start raising alarms, my limbs lock up, I feel this sick, aching feeling in my chest." Reluctantly, he meets Sun's gaze and sees the other's expression- he doesn't look at all consoled or at least satisfied with the explanation. "It's the truth," Moon asserts sternly. "I know you're capable of helping, but..." He lets out a heavy breath. "Something in me just won't let me ask you to."

Sun looks down at his hands. Moon frowns and wonders what's playing on the other's mind, but as the silence drags on he lowers his hands with a bitter look in his eyes. Something like resignation, and before Moon can even begin to try and say something that might patch this all up a bit, Sun starts to walk to the doorway.

"The daycare is clean enough. I'm going to my room..."

"Sun, wait- it's not like that!" Moon runs after him, walking beside Sun out of the play enclosure.

"Isn't it? Even if you don't consciously think I'm useless, something below the surface disagrees. And I can't even blame him."

"... What, you think the Old Moon has some influence on my subconscious?" I question, but I can't even bring myself to be annoyed by the thought- after all, I've pondered the possibility, myself.

"I wouldn't be surprised. His AI was reset but some of his traits survived it. You have his same passions and interests, you- you talk like him and you push me away like he would..." Sun grips the railing as he climbs up the stairs, muttering, "He knew I was useless, too. The one time I tried to help him, and I fucked up everything. I'm the reason he died. I'm the reason you have to suffer his mistakes. Mymistakes."

Moon stops at that, watching Sun continue climbing the stairs. As the daycare attendant reaches the second floor, he mutters, "You say you're worried about me running away... But I'm frankly surprised you haven't. You should. You're a Moon but not the Moon responsible for all of this."

"... I know," Moon sighs. "I should run away, shouldn't I? But... You're not the only one with a reason to stay. I've got my own anchors."

"That's fair enough. But you should look into moving out of the Pizzaplex, too. I think we all could benefit from not having to spend our entire fucking lives in this dump," Sun states bluntly, and with that, he walks away toward the loft, going to his room for the night.

Moon turns and sits on the staircase, his arms resting on his legs as he considers the other's words.