Chapter Text
The door clinked quietly behind you as you shut it, bells jingling as you stepped through and pulled it closed gently. You peer into the darkness around you, fumbling the keys in your hands as you re-lock the glass door. The shutters of the candyshop are down, since it doesn't open for another hour or two. Since you can't see anything and there was no answer when you called out, your fingers easily find and flip on the familiar switch. Suddenly illuminated, the beloved interior of the sweets stop twinkles before you. As you make your way behind the employees-only doors you scan the room once more. Glittering jars of assorted candies line the back wall behind the front counter. Along the walls of the room, shelves stuffed with colorful sweets take up every space that isn't covered by a door. Above the shelves vibrant posters advertise the newest and trendiest treats, as well as many vintage candies that don't need to be trending to be timeless classics everyone still loves. Circular gondola displays are sprinkled throughout the room, filled with scoopable candies and Silly Stix refills. You notice that they're running low, so you make a mental note to refill them later. There's still no sign of the candyshops' beloved owner---or rather, owners--AKA your boss, so you push through the employees-only doors to clock in for the day.
The inside of the employees-only area isn't much less colorful than the main shop. Early on you figured this was because your boss has a really sunny side, and he probably enjoyed painting rainbows all over the previously dull walls. They always liked to insist that their employees should always be as happy in their working environment as the kids that came in daily skipping with shining faces, (though less shiny teeth), which you could admit was pretty sweet of them. Even though you were their only employee at the moment. You snapped back on task at the thought. Since you were their only employee and they were pretty busy running the shop all day, you always had a good amount of work to do. You check the employee countertop for the list always handwritten to you for each day's tasks. The expo marker was a bright yellow today, which was a little hard to read especially with the comically overly swirly handwriting, but you got the gist of what you had to do.
Refill the Silly Stix Powders. Sort the scoopable candies back into their original spots (these get mixed up a lot for some reason). Wipe the handprints off the glass displays. Sweep and take out the trash. Oversee and help bring in a new load of those blue candies. Try to mop up that stain on the floor from when that kid got too excited and vomited up his pink fizzy faz (haven't been able to get that stubborn stain out of the concrete yet). Check on the soda vending machine to make sure it's still all stocked up.
Underneath the list is signed with a very enthusiastic "Thank you!" featuring about 2000 exclamation marks and a little doodle of a sun. You quirk a smile and straighten up, stretching to crack your fingers before you get to work. You make sure to slip the brightly branded company-issued apron over your shoulders before grabbing a broom and dustpan from the supply closet and heading back into the candyshop's main room.
The sweeping is goes by fast; since you've been here for a hot minute you know your way around decently well, and the nooks and crannies can't hide their dust bunnies and candy wrappers from you for long. You like to get the quick tasks out of the way first, so next is taking out the trash bins. This takes two rounds, since there's not only the ones in the shop but the few in the back areas the customer's aren't allowed in. The dumpster is in the alleyway next to the candyshop, and luckily there's a door that leads there from the employees-only areas. You shiver as you step out into the predawn street. After heaving the heavy trash bags in the dumpster, you take a moment to breathe in the crisp early morning air. Pale blue light is just starting to lighten the sky, so you'd decided against bringing the headlamp in the staff drawers since it wasn't too dark to see, though the shadows were still deep. The tricky streetlamp just outside the alley hums, but you know it's too old and frozen that it won't turn on without a good kick or three. You bring your arms up around yourself and huff to see your breath in the air. It's been getting colder lately; the busiest season will be arriving soon. You haven't actually been around that long to have worked at the candyshop during the holidays, but from what you know about sweets stores around winter festivities, you've been bracing yourself anxiously. Looking down from the sky to your shoes, you let out another breath just to see it float icily in the early November air. Well, I survived Halloween, so at least I know I'm somewhat ready. You muse, shivering slightly.
"It's cold out." You startle at the voice sounding from behind you and whip around. The shadowed figure stands by the staff door, tilting his head at you from further down the alley. You recognize the figure as one of your bosses (well, kinda) and one of the owners of the candyshop, Moon. The smile etched in his face slightly stretches as you put a hand to your chest to calm yourself.
"Jeez, whoa, you startled me" You start.
"Come here." His crackly voice beckons.
"What?" Your eyes crinkle in mild confusion.
"Come here." Moon repeats. His permanent smile does not waver, though his head tilts slightly more.
"Okay." You shrug and approach the staff door, stepping into the shadow of the building in front of him.
His eyes watch your approach.
"It's cold out." He doesn't move. Alright, good morning to you too I guess... You resist the urge to roll your eyes.
"Yeah, I noticed." You glance down and see he's holding the other trash bag you were about to go back and get. A twinge of guilt ripples through you for lollygagging on your shift, but it's small. It was only a moment, anyways.
"Oh, uh, thanks--You didn't have to do that, I have this stuff covered, you know.." You apologize, reaching for the trash bag. Wordlessly he loosens his grip on it, but doesn't move otherwise. His eyes never leave your face; it's as if he's scanning you or something. Weird, a little creepy, but it's too early for you to really care too much. You raise an eyebrow at him.
"Uh... I'm just gonna go take care of this." You start back towards the dumpster, shaking off another shiver. You can feel his eyes on your back as you turn away, and you resist a sigh. You first started working at the Superstar Candyshop as a summer job earlier that year. It had taken you a few months to get used to working with literal robo-animatronic-something bosses, but in recent years technology like them had been entering the workforce a lot more, so it wasn't entirely uncommon to have robotic coworkers. However, your employers were definitely a lot different then your average dull-minded staff bot. They had originally been made to work for a robotics and engineering company called something along the lines of "Freddy Fazbear's Entertainment," but since there was some legal trouble (something about animatronic rights) they were released into the world to do their own thing. You have no idea about the other popular animatronic characters or what they were currently up to, but all you knew was that two years ago they opened up their own candyshop and have quickly become the most beloved and best-rated in the state, if not the country. They weren't well-known for hiring human employees, however, so you kinda considered yourself lucky to even get this job.
You're broken out of your thoughts after you drop the bag in the trash and start reaching for the other one you'd set down earlier. Gods, why did these have to be so heavy? You have no idea how Moon had single handedly held that out for you. Speaking of, did he-? You glance behind you and he's still standing there, though one hand is on the half-open door. You squint.
"We're loosing heat, close the door." You called over your shoulder, turning back to pick up the second bag. Ugh, how was this one even heavier? It's mostly just candy wrappers, what could possibly be making this so dang hard to lift?
"Come inside." Moon's voice echoes slightly against the alley walls. "It's cold out."
You wrinkle your nose as you finally pick up the last trash bag and get ready to throw it in the dumpster.
"In a minute. You should really close the door." Your last sentence huffs visible breath into the air as you exhale in relief that you're finally done lifting these stupidly heavy bags. Nothing to lift until later, when you have to help unload the new shipment, at least. You brush your hands off against each other, ignoring the fact that they're slightly numb now. Whatever, you can warm your frigid hands up back inside. You turn back towards the staff door.. and jump with a barely-muffled shriek as you're suddenly met with a big crescent shaped face a little too close to your own. A metallic hand grabs your shoulder sharply before you can stumble back and fall into the trash. You bite back a curse as you stare indignantly up at Moon and regain your balance.
"Dude! Holy jumpscare, what the f-" A cold finger presses to your lips and Moon clicks metallically.
"Language." He chides. You groan and step past him towards the staff door. It had closed when he stepped away. You reach for the handle.
"C'mon, there's not gonna be any kids here for at least another 40 minutes-" Click. Click click. You rattle the handle. It doesn't budge. Are you fucking kidding me. You forgot about the damn auto-lock and now you look stupid twice over. You fumble for your keys in your pockets with a frustrated sigh. It's too early to be jumpscared, not like you enjoy it much at any other time of day, or night for that matter. A shadow falls over you as you feel his tall figure lean over and swiftly unlock the door in one quick motion. You glare up at him grumpily. Moon simply looks down at you with his faceplate's constant smile, though this one seems awfully full of itself for some reason.
"Swearing is not a good habit to keep, whether children are around-" He swings the door open for you, and you begrudgingly enter. "-or not."
He follows in after you as you try not to trip your way through the darkened employee room. You ignore the chuckle resounding from behind you and fumble for the light switch.
"Yeah, sure, whatever you say, boss-" You turn around. He's disappeared. Fine. Typical Moon. You're used to his random sneaky entrances and exits, but it never really gets less unnerving. You roll your eyes and shake yourself off. Though a little creepy at times, you can't not admit that the guy is hugely admired among the children, especially the regular customers. He usually works the evening shifts though, and otherwise stays in the slight gloom behind the main counter, under the twinkling glass jars. The image brings a slight smile to your face; he really does look like a moon in a sky twinkling full of little stars when he's there. He likes to give out little sweets secretly to the shy kids. You pretend not to notice, but it's a warm scene. Brr. Speaking of warmth.
You quickly make your way over to the sink on the staff counter and run your hands under the warm water for a few seconds. You hum quietly in relief; Moon had a point, it really was cold outside, although snow wouldn't hit the streets for a few more weeks at least. You turn off the tap with a sigh.
"Man, I could really use a coffee right about now.." you mutter to yourself as you dry your hands.
"GOOD MORNING!!!"
"AAAAH!" You jump in shock for the second time just that morning, bonking your head on the upper cabinets as you do so. You swivel around to see your other boss and beloved counterpart owner of the Superstar Candyshop, Sun. Bright and cheery and incredibly enthusiastic as he is every morning, Sun stands in a one-legged jester-like pose, with his hands spread around the wide rays on his head and the wider smile on his faceplate. You exhale and rub your head wearily, cracking a small grin at the theatrics nothenless.
"Ah, good morning, Sun-" He notices your hand rubbing the slight bruise on your head. His whole body contorts into a comically overreactive pose of pure shock and distress. You try to stop the inevitable. Eyes wide, you start to wave your hands out in front of you, which is promptly ignored as he practically bounds forward.
"Oh, NO! I am so so SO sorry, starshine!" The touchy robot scoops your head into his large hands. You jolt at the sudden contact and flush awkwardly as he tilts your head this way and that, trying to inspect the bruise that's barely even there in the first place. Of course, he's immediately forgotten every talk you've ever had about personal space as soon as you bump your head. Great. You bring your hands around his wrists, trying to pull them away. He hesitantly lessens his grip worriedly.
"Oh, no no no! This won't do! We can't have our star employee damaged now, can we? No siree! No can do! Let's get you all patched up, you'll feel all better in no time, promise-!" He turns to the cupboard you had just hit your head on and opens it to reveal the medical supplies, mixed in with some paper towels and cleaning bottles. You rub your face with a groan. He spins around to face you again, hands reaching out towards your head.
"Sun, remember that little talk we had about personal space? And how some people are not entirely comfortable with touching?" You glower at him with raised eyebrows. Wow, not even 6 AM yet and your system is already high-strung and wracked from not one but two unintentional jumpscares from your bosses//coworkers. Maybe you wouldn't even need that coffee.
You start to regret your words a little as Sun deflates, his hands holding a sparkly band-aid lowering and his rays shrinking. But only a little. Boundaries are important, you remind yourself. But still, you take the band-aid from Sun's hands with a small smile.
"Hey, I appreciate the thought. But I'm fine, really, just a small bruise." You tilt your head and crack a grin at him. A tiny pause, then back to the Sun everyone knows and loves. He chirps up immediately, rays opening again.
"Oh, alright then! Just looking out for our star employee!" He flashes a somehow even bigger grin at you with a playful finger-gun. You roll your eyes, but can't stop the smile spreading on your face.
"I'm your only employee." You chuckle, folding your arms and raising an eyebrow. He doesn't seem to mind, alright practically flying around the room getting ready for the day.
"Oh, we know, we know," He says over his shoulder, hands flying to tidy up the little mess there is the employee room. "That's just why we gotta care! Can't loose our best worker now, can we?" He winks at you goofily and spins towards the door. "Good morning again! It's almost showtime!" The jester-esque robot leaves the room in a flurry of action. You shake your head, but can't shake your smile. Silly. You think to yourself, but endearingly. There's a reason he's many of the kid's favorite; the guy can really brighten up any room he goes into. Maybe that's why he's called "Sun," you muse to yourself. You push yourself off the counter and re-tie your apron. Either way, the day's about to start, and you have got a lot to do.