Work Text:
Sniffles and sneezes were nothing new to the Daycare. You don't think there's been a week where there wasn't at least one sick kid, not that you stopped to think about it. Even if it was something as simple as running a little too warm, sickness was still sickness. It almost irritated you how often a sick kid would be stuffed down the sliding entrance of the Daycare by their parent— by now you must have memorized every phone number of the parents who pulled that sort of nonsense, at least you remembered the numbers of the regulars who often left their kids in the care of the Pizzaplex.
Though you supposed that made you a bit of a hypocrite. Because at the moment, you were sitting behind your work desk with a halfway emptied box of tissues— Fazbear themed because of course it had to have the face of the Pizzaplex's golden boy plastered all over it, just like everything else within the Pizzaplex— pulled away from it's usual corner. A rather large water bottle that you had brought home lightly rattled the table each time you used it, one of those obscenely large one gallon bottles you found one day while browsing the store. It was funny the first few times you lugged it into the Daycare, the children got a kick out of seeing such a large thing… but now? The pit of your stomach sparked with irritation and unease as your fingers wrapped around the handle as you mentally prepared your sickly body to pull the damned thing off of the desk. At least the lid had a built in straw so you didn't have to tip your wobbly head back to get a good swig in.
You weren't really all that sick.
If anything it was more akin to allergies, the shift between seasons was always a little rough on your body. Not just Spring, but changes in general and it simply seemed to get worse with each passing year. A part of you actually rather envied the Attendant as it's sunny counterpart bounced this way and that across the padded flooring of the Daycare. Cartwheels and shimmies, like his body was filled with energy. Though… it kind of was, if you stopped to think about it.
Robots didn't get sick in the same way that humans did and that was something you would always feel some sort of resentment for, even if it was fleeting and irrational. Had you truly been sick with something that Attendant would have you sent home as soon as his built in sensors caught the mild fever of your body. Not that it was needed, even the children could tell something was off.
It was a mercy that Sun had insisted on tacking over for the day. Whether out of not wanting the kids to be exposed to your sneezes even if you weren't contagious (because honestly… even if it was just allergies no one wanted to be around someone who was constantly sniffling. Gross.), or out of worry of overworking you.
By the time lunch had rolled around Sun was dipping back to your desk to lean his yellow silicone hand against the corner, feet kept just outside the space that was technically "yours". Even if it was by accident the work desk made an excellent quarantine area— both Sun and the kids stayed away from it. Except when they didn't. Like now, with Sun rolling a small packet of crackers between his long fingers. The length of his orange rays retreated under his round and flat faceplate, leaving only the tips peeking out just enough to let you know they were still there.
It was still a mystery to you about where Moon's sleeping cap was kept… you'd ask one of them on a different day, when you weren't feeling so under the weather. It'd give you enough time to pick your poison, too— to ask Sun and deal with his energy, or to ask Moon and deal with his roundabout teasing. It'd only be a matter of time before the Naptime Attendant got the idea to start incorporating riddles into his routine. Just the thought alone pushed the aching in the back of your head worm itself deeper. Speaking of naptime… at least that would be soon, the lights would be dimmed and maybe you can get away with sinking your head down into your arms and catching a few minutes of rest.
In hindsight you should have called in sick.
Alas, you didn't have any sick days left at the moment.
"I think the little stars know you're feeling a little under the weather, Sunshine, they're quieter than they usually are…" Sun mumbled softly as his double hinged neck craned down to look at your curled form, cheek firmly pressed against the cool table top. Only time would tell if the air conditioning unit stationed directly above your desk would be anything to worry about… but for now, you enjoyed the soft breeze against the slickened back of your neck— head tilting just right to further expose the sweaty skin. If only you could get away with changing out of your work uniform in favor of something more comfortable…
"Well that's good at least, isn't it? After all, when was the last time you had to pull a solo shift? A few months, probably…" You mumbled quietly, the corner of your mouth squashed against the desk.
That… probably wasn't the most sanitary… but you were already feeling sick, so what was a little bit of rubbing your face on a desk? Besides, you were mostly on top of keeping the space clean. How bad could it be—
"How're you feeling, Sunshine?" Sun asked quietly as the packet of crackers continued to roll between his fingers. You didn't really have it in you at the moment to tell them that the crinkling of the plastic wrapper was grating on your headache, so instead you simply peeled your warmed cheek off of the cool top of the desk. You nearly heard the way Sun's worried hum drifted through the space between the both of you, but you chose to not comment on it as you flexed your dry tongue against the backs of your teeth.
"I could be better… loads better, actually." You mumbled quietly, not wasting a second to make a grab for your water bottle. If the Pizzaplex didn't have a strict rule against outside food and drink you'd consider trying to bring in a thermos of soup for lunch. Sneaking in your water was already pushing it, the only real reason you were allowed to bring it in was because you technically filled it inside the Pizzaplex. The water fountains hated to see you coming. You also hated to see the water fountains but that was a whole ordeal of worrying about when they were cleaned last and having to awkwardly crane your bottle around to make sure you actually filled the thing. "I know you said the kids are… calmer today.. but they aren't being too much today, are they? I know it'll get a little crazy during play time later… I might be able to help during nap time once the lights are off— headache… but…" You trailed off as Sun gently pushed the packet of crackers towards you.
They weren't anything special. They weren't even the filled sandwich variety. No cheese, and no peanut butter. Just plain single layered crackers that vaguely shaped themselves into a sun. It was rather cute, actually… at least the Attendant wasn't left behind in the themed food department outside of their candies.
"I think Moon would rather tie you down with the spare blankets if you even tried to get up and help him, Sunshine… I know I'd be tempted if I were in his shoes," Sun's laugh didn't at all feel sincere as his milky white eyes remained fixed on your hunched form.
The animatronic had a knack for worrying. Like they programmed him with anxiety in mind, and if you were asked for your opinion on that that seemed… rather cruel, especially given they made him work with children. Kids weren't exactly known for being careful— if anything they were known for getting into all sorts of trouble. You were pretty durable as a kid, if you do say so yourself.
You only offered a half hearted hum, the vibration rattling through the thickness of your throat— as gross as it sounded you forced it down. Coughing hardly did anything but irritate the already itchy lining of your muscles. Sun never had to worry about the aftermath of coughing up a lung, and that was something else you envied him on.
You could handle a headache.
You could handle the ache. The fatigue.
But why did it have to come with phlegm? What sick God thought that it would be funny enough to bring that into existence?
All of this for some pollen allergy, or something.
"I figured as much, but still… I feel awful for not being all that useful today, and I'd feel worse if I didn't even try to offer to do something." You muttered quietly as you tore open the thin plastic encasing the crackers. At least they weren't stale, there was that. The Daycare Attendant actually did a really good job at making sure the snacks they kept on hand were fresh. Unlike some of the vending machines scattered in the further corners of the Pizzaplex. You had to learn the hard way that sometimes a pizza shaped sugar cookie looked way better than it looked. "But I guess getting a blanket doesn't sound all that bad…"
You pulled the cracker out of the wrapper, and… well it didn't really smell like anything thanks to the current state of your nose. It didn't really taste like anything either as you slipped it between your teeth. Not that you thought it was going to be anything special… how good could a cracker be?
It was a nice texture, at least.
The cracker took up so much of your attention that it hardly registered that Sun's rays popped out from his faceplate at the mention of a blanket. Nor did it process as they clicked this way and that.
"I can get you a blanket! I could get you a pillow too so you don't have to put your head on the desk—!" Sun was already peeling his hand off of the desk. "M-maybe I can get you a few mats too so you don't have to sit at the desk at all!" he added as he anxiously twisted on his heel.
How often was it that he had to actually take care of someone who was sick? Sure he could look after a child for a little while as he waited for their guardian to come pick them up but that was different. On top of that it wasn't like you were seeking him out for comfort.
Not that the idea of leaning against his body and feeling the dull vibration of his mechanics functioning under the yellow casings of his body. That… actually sounded really nice. Alas the animatronic had a job that needed to get done. For a moment you considered it as the packet rolled between your fingers, just as they had slipped between the animatronic's fingers just moments before.
The fact that not a single cracker was left broken inside the package.
"You don't have to do all that, but if you insist— I'm fine with just a blanket," You mumbled softly… but Sun was already well on his way off, only briefly stopping to check in on the children. And to stop one of them from smearing some oozy taffy like candy into another one's hair.
Lunch time was probably your least favorite part of the day… so you did not envy Sun for taking charge on that for today.