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Sun loved Moon. It was a fact. Just like how the sky was sometimes blue, and yellow was his favourite colour.
Sun loved Moon so much that he even wanted to propose to him!
He’d heard the word around when he took care of the kids. A quick search of his system and a few questions begrudgingly answered by his caretaker made him sure he wanted to propose to Moon.
Maybe they couldn’t get married like how humans could, nor could they ever, but it was the sentiment that did it in! And, just as long as they knew (and maybe the glamrocks… and the children), then who cared what others thought?
Of course, the very first thing was to get a suitable ring for Moon. That was the very first thing! He didn’t know how much gemstones cost, and he couldn’t find them in the catalogue he looked through when he needed to order supplies.
Sure, he could just ask Jackson or Richard, but he didn’t want anyone to know what he was planning! What if they told Moon? What if they tried to talk him out of it? Or WORSE, what if they told Sun he was forbidden to do it!
So, no, if Sun couldn’t buy the necessary object, he’d make it!
Not for the first time, Sun was glad that Amethyst had allowed tinfoil in arts and crafts. It was limited to the older children who could understand the importance of being careful, but that just meant Sun had better material to use!
Tinfoil would be great for the ring, and if Sun could make a sphere out of paper or even cardboard, he could make it as shiny or pretty as he wanted!
Finally, after the craft was finished and they had no plans after the children left, did Sun take his chance.
“Moonbeam!” Sun sang, finding his lovely, lovely partner restacking the many barrels that the children had knocked over during the day.
“Yes, Sunshine?” Moon asked, looking up for just a moment to pierce Sun with those striking ruby eyes.
“I have a question for you!”
“I’m not sure I’d be able to answer it. You might need to ask Jackson; he seems to know his stuff.” Moon said, always as calm and oblivious as he always was.
“No, no, no! It is a question that only the most beautiful, cutest and precious of all the land can answer, and that is you!”
Moon sputtered for a moment, stopping what they were doing to pull their cap over their optics so they could recuperate and stamp down the blue blush on their face. “S-Sunny! Don’t just say that!”
“But it’s the truth!” Sun whined playfully.
“You’re so dumb,” Moon said, shaking his head. “Fine, what was the question?”
“Okay! So, I heard this little tradition, I think, or was it a ritual? Either way, there’s this thing the kids talk about often: when they get together or play pretend, they talk about proposing, and that leads to marriage! And I asked Jackson about it and looked it up on my own, but the proposals are to start marriages! And, well, that means proposals are for if you’re very, very, very close to someone, and well, I’m very close to you, so I spent all this time making a ring for you and things because you deserve the best, and while I couldn’t buy you the best, I could certainly make it! And I totally promise that when I can, I’ll buy another one because you deserve it and I’ll never give you something you don’t deserve and-”
“Sunny! Slow down!” Moon said, holding up his arms in front of Sun. “I know you’re excited, but you’ll have to slow down. I’m not even sure I’m hearing you correctly.”
“You’re right! You’re always so smart! Give me a moment!” Sun got down on one knee and produced a little handmade box. It was obviously made of cardboard, but the intricate glueing, cutting, and painting made it look like a real jewellery box.
Sun opened the box and presented it to Moon; inside lay a ring. While it was handcrafted and Sun was very much limited to what was on the arts and crafts table, the ring was beautiful.
The ring itself was made of tinfoil, but it was rolled so tightly and cleanly that it looked almost like real silver, and the gemstone was round, with its two halves painted different colours. One side was painted a beautiful blue, and the other a vibrant yellow, an eclipse.
“Moon… I know we can’t have marriages like humans, and we can’t exactly tell anyone about this, well, any of the employees at least, but I think I’d be content with that if I could just be with you forever.”
“We already are always together,” Moon said, but the words sounded choked.
“Shh! Let me be sappy!” Sun said playfully. “I- I just love you SO SO SO much, Moonie! And I guess I just wanted to say, Moon, would you marry me? Or at least the closest we can be?”
Sun smiled up at Moon for a long moment. The only sound in the empty daycare was the music and Moon’s fans, which were slowly growing louder and drowning out the music.
“I don’t know, Sun,” Moon said softly. He pulled his nightcap over his eyes, however, clearly trying to hide his blush. “I-I’m flattered, but I’m not sure.”
Despite his partner’s words, Sun’s rays started spinning. It wasn’t a no! “Of course, Moonie. Take all the time you need!”
The past few weeks, Sun would come toward Moon, always saying the same thing. “Have you thought about it yet?”
Moon’s fans would kick it to the highest setting each time unfairly. “Give me some time. I’m still thinking…”
It never seemed to bring Sun down; however, it seemed to drive him further.
—-
Moon wished he had accepted Sun’s proposal.
They could imagine what would have happened if they had married. They would’ve gotten in trouble. Jackson and Richard barely accepted their relationship; if they found out about their “marriage”, they’d cause a riot.
But, he could never say no to his Sun. Not only would he be lying, but they would also be hurting Sun. They could never do that.
Now, though, holding Sun’s body, they wished they had accepted the proposal right off the bat.
Footsteps sounded behind Moon.
“Moon…” she said, her voice soft and apologetic.
“Why did they do this?” Moon asked.
She gulped as she lowered her head. “I don’t know. I’m sorry.”
“Why didn’t you stop them?” Moon asked. Their voice monotone. Devoid of emotion. Why should they care about anything besides the animatronic in their arms?
“I don’t have that power. All I have on me is my words. That wasn’t enough this time.”
“Amethyst?” Moon said, finally looking up to face her.
“Yes, Moon?” Their eyes were tired. Had they been crying as well?
“Why didn’t they take me too?”
“He didn’t meet expectations anymore. No maintenance could do anything. They couldn’t keep a liability like that,” her breath hitched as a tear fell onto Sun’s cheek.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, Sun. I’m sorry for taking him away, Moon.”