Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The Virus had barely been noticeable in the beginning. It had been small things that had gone unnoticed by both Moon and Sun in their shared body: a small headache here, a moment where Moon would go completely silent before acting like nothing had happened...things that the two daycare attendants had waved off without a single glance.

But then things started getting worse: their connection became more static and disconnected, and Sun could feel his lunar counterpart drifting further and further away with every day that passed. It was becoming harder and harder to feel Moon’s emotions and thoughts, becoming harder to communicate with him as Moon slipped away from his reach. And the times Moon DID talk were weird, almost like a glitch was affecting his communication with Sun, like a border getting in between them.

But then, when things couldn’t get worse, Moon started fighting for control. Pushing, forcing Sun back into their headspace for long periods of time, so long that it hurt Sun to stay back there, shoved so carelessly to the side...all so Moon could do as he pleased while he ignored Sun’s pleas for him to stop. Moon didn’t care anymore. Gone was the kind and calming nighttime attendant Sun had once knew and loved, and was now replaced by someone who was violent and aggressive, who hurt everyone that crossed his path.

Moon started hurting wet floor bots.

Started hurting the staff.

Started hurting the children.

It was absolutely horrifying, having to be forced to watch as Moon cackled in glee at the blood that dripped from his hands, having to watch as Moon hurt them all so badly that Sun wasn’t even sure they were ever going to wake up. The only light of the situation was when his connection from Moon was cut off completely. He couldn’t hear Moon. Couldn’t feel Moon. Couldn’t see what Moon was doing anymore. Sun was alone. All alone.

...So very, very alone.

Of course, just because he couldn’t see what happened, didn’t mean he wasn’t forced to deal with the aftermath...it was agonizing to finally be able to slip back into control every night from Moon’s rampage, only to be met with the sight of bloody bodies surrounding his feet, with blood covering every inch on his shaking hands. He would scream so painfully and would cry every time at the sight of all those poor, innocent people who had been killed at the hands of Moon, he would shout and yell at Moon for what he had done, even if he knew Moon couldn’t even hear him...but that didn’t stop him from feeling so angry at his counterpart for what he had done.

And what did the staff do about it? They ignored it of course. They ignored Sun’s desperate cries and pleas for help, would wave him off without a second glance whenever he tried to show them how hostile Moon was becoming towards everyone, even himself...he tried so hard to warn them about how something was wrong with his Moonlight. But they never listened to him as always, which wasn’t much of a surprise...him and Moon had always been pushed to the side in favor of the Glamrocks. It was something Sun had always known and accepted, but in those days, he had begun to hate the Glamrocks more than anything.

But pretty soon, the staff was forced to listen to him when things went from bad to worse.

The kids started going missing. Parents were worried sick and complaining, sending in thousands of complaints about Moon, so many that the staff began putting up generators all around the Daycare and surrounding the play structures...and Sun was given a new rule during the Daycare hours: Keep the lights ON. Always. No matter what. And for a while, Sun listened: he warned the kids about the lights, told them that it was best that they stayed away from them, that Moon would no longer be taking care of naptime as of now. When the children asked about Moon, Sun would change the subject quickly, would distract them with a game or craft or anything that would keep them from mentioning Moon...it just hurt too much to think about what Moon was becoming.

He missed Moon. He missed the snarky and sarcastic attitude Moon always seemed to have around everyone, and yet would always be so calm and gentle towards him and the kids. He missed the silly voices Moon would always make during the stories he told during naptime. He missed the sweet and soothing lullabies Moon would sing to the children and Sun to lull them into sleep. He missed the loving whispers Moon would murmur to him, missed the praises and compliments that Moon would give to him whenever he was having a rough day.

He missed his friend. His partner. His other half. His soulmate. His light. His reason for living.

He missed Moon more than anything in the world. And even when Moon would hurt everything and everyone, even when Moon fought for control and hurt Sun, and even when everything seemed hopeless...Sun still held onto the last string of hope that was keeping him together. That small hope that his Moon was still there, waiting for him with open arms.

But he was wrong.

One day...Sun lost control. Watched in horror as his grasp on the control slipped away, allowing for Moon to take over their body. He remembered screamed desperately for Moon to leave the children alone, even though he knew Moon couldn’t hear him. And then...there was a small light in their dark and empty headspace. One that allowed for Sun to get a glimpse of what was happening outside, and for a moment, he had foolishly hoped that this meant his connection with Moon was coming back; that his Moon was coming back...the sweet, gentle nighttime attendant that had been the sweetest and most precious soul in the whole world.

But what he saw finally made him realize.

His Moon wasn’t coming back.

______________

What was going on?

He had been stuck somewhere...whether it was his and Sun’s headspace, or something entirely different...it was all just so...purple. Glitching in and out and fading around him like some sort of warped reality...he didn’t know how he had ended up here. One minute he had been laughing and talking with his Sunshine in their mindspace, and the next, he was being pulled away and shut out from his communication with Sun. He tried so hard to reach out, to get back to Sun...tried desperately to tell Sun that everything was okay, that everything was alright...but he couldn’t. He didn’t know what was going on. All he knew was that he wasn’t controlling his own actions...and that he couldn’t talk to his Starfire.

He hadn’t thought that what he had brushed off as minor headaches and blurry vision could turn into something as dangerous and big as this. He hadn’t thought that it would ever make things this bad. He hadn’t thought that this...virus(?) controlling him would make him go as far as hurting people. This virus started out simple with it’s physical aggression: he would rip up and destroy staff bots that roamed by on his patrols, and he would then shove them into his and Sun’s worn down yet still loved shared room. The room slowly began accumulating amounts of broken bots and metals, which he knew Sun probably didn’t appreciate (and neither did Moon), but at least it wasn’t anything major. Just short bursts of aggression and violence...both of which Moon was sure he could get fixed.

But then, whatever was controlling him got worse...instead of just hurting and breaking staff bots, he began hurting people. Kids. The virus, they-...he began hurting them. And then, things started spiralling out of his control when he began killing adult humans and staff. Killed them with his own two hands as the guilt and horror covered over him just like the blood of their lifeless bodies covered his hands. And what could he do about it? Nothing. All he could do was watch numbly and in horror as he killed people. It was like watching a movie in first person...except he didn’t like this movie. It was horrifying. He had killed all of those innocent people, and had been unable to do anything except watch as it happened. He couldn’t control himself.

And then it got worse. He was losing more and more control and now each passing day felt like watching and playing an old broken record: he saw the same scene over and over and over again. Blood. Screams. Crying. He felt like he was going to go insane from how many times he had heard and seen all the horrors he had done. The only thing that brought him some relief was that it was just adults he had killed...not the children. Though, he could faintly remember taking some children to this...white rabbit lady every now and then. Watching as the poor children were taken away, their lost and confused faces being the last thing he ever saw of them before they disappeared into the dark shadows of the Pizzaplex.

...they never came back after that. Maybe he really HAD been killing those children...just not with his own two hands.

He didn’t know how long it had been since the last time he had taken full control over himself...how long it had been since he had access to the real world. Hell, he didn’t even know when was the last time he had ever talked to Sun. 1 day? 6 months? 12 years? There was no sense of time in the place he was trapped in...no feelings, no sensations...nothing. Just the feeling of being trapped and chained in place, being held back by whatever was controlling him...this virus. The virus was slowly but greatly ruining his life...he was so violent towards everyone, towards the children, and they were all becoming scared of him, framing him as a villain and they were the victims...when really he was the victim, subjected to a virus he didn’t want. But no one knew. No one cared. They just did everything they could to keep him away from them...even the little starlights at the Daycare began to become wary of him. And it hurt...so badly.

...

His only light was the fact that he knew Sun was still trying to get to him...because every now and then, he could faintly feel the fluttering feeling of Sun’s code hugging him, though it only lasted for a few seconds. Though, Moon clung to that feeling, to those few seconds, like a dying man clinging to a lifeline. Sun was his hope, his only reason to keep fighting against this...’virus’ thing that had begun to corrupt him. Knowing that Sun still loved him, even through all that he had done, was the only thing that made the pain and guilt tolerable.

But eventually, he lost that too.

Moon remembered the virus pushing him to fight for control over their body, and he remembered taking over as the lights dimmened just enough to give Moon the reins of control. He remembered seeing one of the kids running around and making a mess everywhere, and his naptime protocols had kicked in in that moment...but they had felt wrong. It wasn’t his usual protocols...this one felt more dangerous, more violent and virus-like than the normal gentleness that he usually felt during naptime.

He had giggled gleefully as he had called for his wire and had chased the little kid, a boy that had probably been about only 8 years old, around the Daycare as he ran from Moon.

He remembered catching the boy by the scruff of his shirt and pulling him high up into their air, higher and higher until the ground and kids below became as small as ants, all while the boy screamed for Moon to stop, kicking and fighting against Moon in fear.

“H-Hey, let me go-! Stop, I’m scared!” He cried, but Moon couldn’t hear anything aside from the loud buzzing in his ear that screamed at him to put this child to sleep...

By any means necessary.

“Ñ̵̡̀͗̈́a̸͇͙̋̐ͅụ̵̡̭̙̓̾g̸̜͙̰̬͐̅́h̶͎̩͈̓̅t̴̨͈͂̾͌͛ỳ̴̠̙̉̽̕ ̵̧̦͎̑b̶̥̩̆́o̵̐̂̚͜͠y̷͖̲̏̐.̶̢͖̝͒̈́̉̽͜.̷̡̤͗̀́̑.̴͓̞͋.̷̨̢̻̽̓̾í̶̫̤̦ť̴̫'̷̼͉̓͆͝s̴̹͇̬̱͋̇̍ ̶̧̳͖͐́p̷̟̮̯̩̿a̸̡̛͔̲̽̾s̵̙̾̀t̵̮̙̩̑̋̐͊ ̷͈̀͆̋̕͜y̵͙͔̻̖̋o̷̭̫͕͓͒͝ú̴͇͆̈́̌r̸͙̦̉ͅ ̷͖̈́b̷̛̮̦̫͋̀͝e̴̡̲͒̈d̷̛̦͔̯̀ẗ̶͉̞̘͝i̴̯͉̺̒̄m̵̜̊̃̕e̵̲͒̓~̴̞̟̈͊́̈́ ” He rasped, the forced smile on his faceplate having a more crazed and sadistic look to it as his grip on the kid loosened. He could hear a small noise trying to shout at him, but he ignored it, instead focusing on the thrilling feeling of watching the kid’s eyes widen in fear as he begged Moon to stop.

Moon wanted to stop.

But he couldn’t.

“ Ṇ̵̙̱͛̈́͂i̶͕͎̫͎͗̄̐g̶̬̺̯̃̇͝h̸̢̹͊͛̀ẗ̸͍̈̓̌y̷̩̰̗̣̓̀ ̵͉͖͂̈̒͜N̶̙̂̾̒i̴͔͓͓̼̽̆̕g̴̖͉͓̾̇h̸̳̪͉̋̍̒͝t̸̛̥̥̓.̶̭͍̱̦̋̏͝.̵͓̙̜͔͗͛.̸͎͚͉̒̈́͝ ”

And with that, he let go.

And all he could do was listen to the boy’s screams as he fell farther and farther down, the other childrens’ sobs and cries of terror and fear becoming background noise as the boy finally landed to the ground with a sickeningly delightful CRUNCH.

That’s when the small noise that he had brushed off earlier began to become more and more clear as the virus briefly let in a voice he never thought he’d hear again.

“M̷̢̺͔͓̳̽̇́͘O̸̟̲̫̽̎̕̚͝ͅO̵̡̰̱̲̳̝̾̽̒͝Ň̷̺̓̈͋̒͝!̸̛͈̭̅͒͛͆”

...Sun?

“MOON! MOO̸̧̓̄̅̕N̴̢̹͔̻̿͛͗̕͘,̵͖̜̻̑̆̃͒͂̐́ ̸̰͙̤̼̟̾͊͝S̴̲̞̞͎̻̄͂T̸̡͇̙͈͇̤̺͝O̶̞̳͖͊̎̔͑͝͝P̷̞̤̞̂̊ ̶̥͙̭͓̏̌̄̚͠ͅI̴͕̬̲̾T̴̞͙̿̓̋͑̈͆!̷̧̙͉̹̘̳͇̽̓̎̀́͐̒ ”

How...? It had...been so long...

Moon was forced back in their mindspace, his brief connection with Sun fading as quickly as it had came, and the guilt and pain stabbed at his chest as he heard Sun’s last words before their connection was cut once more:

“MOON, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?”

...

...What had he done...?

__________

Moon...had killed him. Had killed a little boy. A little boy that had never even gotten to live yet...he had had his whole life ahead of him, and Moon had just...taken it away. Just like that. It had been one thing to see the bloody bodies of adults and missing posters of children, but to have had actually seen and watched one their own little starlights get killed so easily with front row seats? It had been agonizing. He had been hoping for a glimpse of his connection with Moon returning, to be able to talk with Moon and see and hear what he was doing...but now, he wished he hadn’t seen anything at all.

“No. No no no no no...” Sun whispered, trembling as he lowered himself down to the ground using the wire, staring at the bloody head that was pooling onto the ground. He stood there for a moment before rushing over, trying to check if the boy was alright. “H-Hey, you’re g-going to be a-alright, okay?? I-I just need to g-get you a d-doctor.” He whispered with a nervous and desperate chuckle, in denial about the boy’s death, even when he felt no heartbeat. “M-Moon, he didn’t mean to, he-.” Sun trailed off, not even sure how to defend Moon anymore. Moon was evil. He had hurt one of the kids...had...had...hurt them beyond repair.

...

...No. N-No, not beyond repair. Sun would help make the poor little starlight be all fixed up again in no time...! H-He’d make him feel all better again, and he’d be running and playing around again in no time! And once he was feeling better, Sun would NEVER turn the lights off ever again...he’d never let Moon, or...whatever that thing was...hurt anyone ever again. H-He’d protect everyone from Moon, he had to! He-

*sniffle*

The sound snapped Sun out of his spiral, and he turned to see the kids staring in horror and fear, some crying, others looking confused and scared at the sight of blood pooling around the floor around the body...and guilt crept inside of his internal system as he saw the look of fear on their faces. He was so caught off in having scared the children, that Sun barely registered the staff and security members running towards the scene as they began to drag him away from the body. Away from the kids. Away from the Daycare.

Everything after that was a blur. Everything changed.

Complaints and charges were sent shortly after.

The Daycare was closed permanently.

The children stopped coming back.

The lights were always on.

And Sun was forced to stay awake and running, even when all he wanted was to rest...to rest after being pushed around and controlled by everyone around him for so long. But he couldn’t.

Because things somehow managed to get even worse.

________

How had things gotten so bad, Sun thought to himself as he silently watched, still and empty, as the place he had once called his home burn around him in the flames that were spreading around him, along with the fond memories and moments he had made in this place with the kids...and with Moon. Despite the burning fire that raged around him in violent bursts, he had never felt more cold than he did in that moment. He was alone. Alone, numb, scared, and cold as his whole world, the only place he had known, burned down to play mat covered ground around him. Although the lights had stopped working about a few hours ago, the flames provided an enormous amount of light and heat, far too much to allow Moon to come out...leaving Sun stuck to sit and watch.

As much as he hated having to be the one who saw all of this, he couldn’t help but feel a bit relieved at being the one to suffer. Although he still couldn’t forgive Moon for all he had done, he could never wish or want harm to come upon his Moonlight...Moon was still his world, whether Moon was still in there with him or not.

And in his last moments, as the flames licked at his feet and burned at his wires, he leaned his head back against the wall and looked up at the ceiling, his broken and melted faceplate being lit up by the flames that licked at his feet, growing closer with each passing minute as he held onto himself tightly. He wished he could say goodbye to Moon one last time...wished he could’ve helped fix Moon and let him live the happy and virus-free life he had deserved. And he wished more than anything that he could go back to the life he had once had...wished he could see the children one last time and listen inside his and Moon’s headspace as Moon sung a sweet lullaby to the sleeping children...but instead, all he could do was use his last bits of energy to send one last wave of comfort to Moon in a desperate and final attempt to say goodbye...one last attempt to reach out to his beloved Moonlight.

“I am so, so sorry, Moon...” Sun whispered, voice coming out as nothing but glitched static and broken sobs as he curled in on himself, watching as warnings flashed across his feed and his vision began to blur and fade away into black as he began to close his eyes, his hands falling limp to his sides as he whispered his final words, a sob escaping from his broken and glitched voicebox.

“...I love you.”

The last thing he heard was the sound of Moon’s voice cutting through the barrier that had been keeping them apart for so long like a knife.

“SUN!”

...

...Moon. Oh, he was glad to hear his Moonlight’s voice one last time...
________________

SYSTEMS REBOOTING...REBOOT COMPLETE! POWERING ON...

Moon groaned as his eyes flickered open, and he was greeted by the blinding light of the room he was in, causing him to hiss in discomfort as he shut his eyes once more to block out the uncomfortable brightness. Everything felt so bright...where was he? His internal programming was running through his statistics and scanning through the new updates that he hadn’t noticed until now. There were all of the regular things he had of course, such as his optical vision, his voicebox, his auditory sensors...but there were also some new items added to the list: touch sensors, a sense of smell, taste (something he pleasantly surprised with, given Chica had always been the only one with tasting sensors), and even an update on his emotions, something that God knows needed a good update. But...why did he have all of these updates? Stupid management had been neglecting him and Sun for years now, barely even wanting to waste their ‘precious money’ on basic repairs for them...it was what lead to Moon having to learn how to take care of his and Sun’s body with repairs, while Sun had learned to sew and mend their uniforms that had been ripped and worn down after years of never being replaced. After doing everything themselves for so long, it didn’t make sense why Fazbear Co. would start caring now of all times...especially since they had always given their attention and money to the Glamrocks, because THEY were the so-called ‘big stars’ of the Pizzaplex, while him and Sun were nobodies that had always been pushed to the side and forgotten. He had always hated it, especially since he and Sun made a decent amount of money for those greedy bastards! And yet they STILL treated them like shit!

...

And because of their neglect, it had been the reason why he had gotten that virus in the first place...the virus that had made him hurt the most important things in his life: the children, and Sun. If he hadn’t gotten the virus...maybe he would’ve been able to do something about the fire...he had only gotten a brief glimpse of it when he had momentarily broken through the virus in that moment, but it had been enough to make him scream Sun’s name in agony and pain...pain because he was forced to know that fact that his poor Firefly had gone through it all...alone.

The thought made his heart feel heavy, but he pushed those feelings to the side for now...the last thing he wanted was for him to be sad and upset when he and Sun had clearly gotten some updates to their body...advanced ones at that, which he was excited to test out. Not to mention that he couldn’t feel a single trace of the virus lurking anywhere near his systems! This probably meant that he could talk to Sun again, after so long of being apart from his beloved. He felt a grin growing on his face, something else he was surprised by...looks like he had a new faceplate as well. And expressive one at that, much less creepier than the forced smile he had had before. He was sure Sun was going to love it, would probably make all sorts of silly faces for the kids now...the thought made him chuckle, and he felt a bit of giddiness rise inside of him as he sent a message to Sun in their headspace.

‘Sun, are you seeing what I’m seeing?? Those idiots have gotten rid of the virus, AND given us some new updates! Finally, looks like they did something right for once in their damn lives-’ He chuckled, waiting for Sun’s squeals and delighted response to fill up their mindspace...maybe even a little scolding for Moon’s choice of language.

...

A second passed. Then two. Three. Four.

...

No answer.

‘...Sun?’

Why wasn’t Sun answering him? The virus shouldn’t have been cutting off their communication link anymore...Moon’s systems didn’t read any indicators of having the virus inside of him anymore. Though, now that he began to think about it, he felt...empty, in a way. Like there was something missing inside of him, a chunk of him that felt empty and lonely, and the realization of the situation was slowly beginning to dawn in as he frantically searched through his mindspace, desperately trying to find any strands of Sun’s code inside of him. Something, ANYTHING that had a hint of Sun, looking into the depths of his systems.

But he came up with absolutely nothing. Sun wasn’t there. Not anymore. In one last attempt, Moon shakily went over to his diagonstics, hoping to see Sun’s code on there, though he was starting to realize that Sun wasn’t there anymore. And sure enough, Moon’s compiling code read that there was only one AI hosting this body: his own.

...

...They...had gotten rid...of Sun...

They had ripped Sun’s code right out of him, had taken him away just like that without so much as a warning. Moon hadn’t even gotten to say goodbye. Never got to tell Sun how much he loved him.

His sweet, beautiful, perfect Starfire...gone.

Sun had been so much more than just a friend to him. Sun had been his light in the dark. His reason for living. His best friend. His partner. His soulmate. The other half of his existance...his world.

Sun had been the only one to ever look past Moon’s imperfections and habits, had been the only one who had understood him so well, completed him like a perfect puzzle piece. Sun had been the one to protect and stand up for him when staff called him a ‘creepy monster’, had been the only one who had stood by Moon’s side through everything...Sun had been the one to comfort and love him through it all.

And now, he was gone. Erased from every part of Moon except his mind and memories. It was like Sun hadn’t been there at all.

*Drip. Drip. Drip*

The sound of water plopping to the ground along with the sensation of something wet falling down Moon’s face made him reach up to touch his face with a shaky hand, and he felt water welling up inside of his eyes as his vision began to blur with something unfamiliar to him, but his systems recognized the sensation: tears, as humans called them...which meant one thing.

He was crying.

...What was this? Why could he cry now? He didn’t want to cry, didn’t want to look weak when he was already feeling horrible now! Management just HAD to make everything worse, didn’t they!?

He sat down on the ground and buried his face into his arms, unable to do anything but break down sobbing, those stupid tears falling down his cheeks like waterfalls.

Why had they taken Sun away? He had done everything that those idiots had ever asked of him, had put up with all of their bullshit for so long! And what did they do? They took away the ONE thing that made him happy! And now...now he had to deal with all of this...alone. Without Sun’s warmth beside him. Without Sun’s comforting whispers when he had had bad days. Without Sun’s love.

It wasn’t fair.

It wasn’t fair that he had lost his everything, that he was left here without Sun. And he hated them for it.

He hated everyone. He hated humans, and he hated staff!

...

...But most of all? He hated himself; because if he had been stronger, if he hadn’t gotten the virus in the first place, maybe he could’ve done something...anything to save Sun. It was all his fault.

“*Sob...*”

He had been the bad one. The one with the virus. He had been the one who had hurt and killed all those innocent people and children...he was the one who should’ve been decommissioned. Not Sun. Not his poor, sweet, beautiful Sun...he had been too good for the world, and now, he had been ripped out of this world because of Moon’s mistake.

And knowing that hurt more than the loneliness he felt in that moment.

He didn’t know how long he sat there, crying like a pathetic mess, but he didn’t care: Sun was gone, and Moon was alone now. Alone and confused, without a single idea of what to do or make of the situation he was in. He was lost without Sun...like a lost ship trying to search for a beacon of light that wasn’t there to guide him back home. He didn’t even know where ‘home’ was anymore...his home had always been wherever Sun was. But now...

Sun wasn’t here at all.

_____________

When Moon finally managed to force himself to get up, he dragged himself through Parts and Service, glancing around at the sight. It was still the place he had hated (and Sun had feared) from before, but it was definitely newer. It had all sorts of more advanced equipment, and the rooms had all been painted to be more welcoming and fun, and if Moon hadn’t been shocked and abused here so many times, he almost would’ve found himself wanting to come in here on his own.

Almost.

When he walked out of P&S, he half-expected to see the same sight he had saw before the fire and virus had overtaken his and Sun’s old body: to see the burning ashes of what was left of their Daycare, to see the shattered and destroyed play structures that the kids had once loved to play on before Moon had gotten the virus.

So he was stunned to see the Daycare in perfect condition, like there had been no fire whatsoever. Not only that, but it seemed to have had some major improvements, from a new Naptime Corner, to some new play structures and toys scattered around, to even a brand new Arts and Crafts area that was filled to the brim with new art supplies and whole section dedicated to glitter glue, something that Sun would’ve absolutely LOVED. Moon found himself chuckling a little, and he was about to tease Sun about how he was probably going to squeal and act like an excited kid once he saw it, but before he could, he remembered: Sun wasn’t here anymore.

His mood immediately soured once more, and his excitement disappeared in an instant.

Things were lonely without Sun. And boring.

Tears pricked at his eyes once again, but he blinked them back this time, wiping his eyes. Stupid tears. He didn’t want to cry again...

Suddenly, the sound of the heavy Daycare doors creaking open caused Moon to jolt out of his silence, and he almost sighed in relief for the distraction. Thank the stars...at least now he had a reason not to dwell on his feelings. Not that he was exactly thrilled to have to talk to anyone but Sun right now.

With a reluctant sigh and a forced smile (something that normal would’ve been easy with his old faceplate, but was now more difficult), he walked over towards the entrance.

And if he could breathe, he surely would’ve forgotten how to in that moment. Because standing in the entrance was the most beautiful person he had ever seen.

And the person he had missed the most, more than anything in this world.

“...Sun?”

Moon had never seen Sun before this, had never known a thing about Sun’s appearance from before...but in that moment, he just...knew.

And his suspicions were confirmed when the beautiful animatronic broke into the biggest grin Moon had ever seen, happy tears pricking his eyes.

“Never thought I’d get to hear you again...much less see your pretty face, Moonlight.” He whispered, just loud enough for Moon to hear.

...

And Moon didn’t even think twice before he was running towards Sun and tackling him into the ground.

“Sun-!” Moon choked out, voice close to a near whimper (something Moon would’ve been ashamed of if it had been a different situation), and his breath was shaky and his voice was cracked as he clung to Sun like it was all a dream; a dream where if he let go, Sun would disappear again.

“Moon...” Sun echoed back, holding Moon tightly in his arms as he gently rubbed Moon’s back, soothing him and cooing softly. “What’s wrong My Light?”

Moon sniffed. “I-I thought...you were...y-you weren’t there-!” He sobbed, and he got a sad and apologetic look from Sun. “I know...I’m so sorry, Moony...I wish I could’ve been there by your side the moment I woke up, but you know how management is...” He huffed, before pulling back so he could take a moment to admire Moon’s face, and he brought a hand up so his thumb could gently stroke Moon’s cheek, earning a small violet blush from Moon.

“I already thought you were pretty just based on your personality, but now that I can actually see you...you’re even more beautiful than I thought.” Sun murmured, voice laced with awe and adoration, and Moon huffed and looked away. “...I looked scary before this.” He grumbled, trying to deflect, but that only earned him a pinch to the cheek from Sun, who looked disapproving as he tutted. “Ah-ah...you were beautiful then, and you’re beautiful now...so no putting down on yourself.” He assured firmly, before leaning his forehead against Moon’s. “...Besides, let me compliment you...I’ve missed being able to do it.” He whispered, voice taking on a sad tone that made Moon’s heart ache. He looked back and leaned his forehead against Sun’s as well, their eyes meeting.

“...”

“...I’m didn’t mean to do any of this.”

“...”

That was the moment Sun had promised to himself.

"I know."

He was never going to let anything hurt Moon.

"I know..."

Ever again.

Chapter Text

The first day they were given after being powered on was theirs and theirs alone. They weren’t needed at the Daycare, not yet. They were told they had to go through some more testing and upgrades, but Moon knew that was just management’s way of saying they were being studied and poked at. He didn’t care. This was the first time he and Sun had spoken since he had first gotten the virus. A chance for them to finally talk without the crushing fear of another breakdown, another agonizing glitch, another thought of losing control again.

So they talked. About the virus. About what had happened. About how they both felt about it. About the guilt that constantly clawed at Moon's chest whenever he thought about what he had done.

He hadn't expected Sun to understand. Hadn't expected Sun to forgive him.

But Sun did.

He did understand. He did forgive. He didn't hate Moon for the things he had done. He didn't hate Moon for the murders he had committed. He didn't even hate Moon when he broke down crying, covering Sun's brand-new outfit in wet tears. He had simply just pulled Moon into his lap and soothed him with gentle touches and words. Soft reassurances and smiles that made Moon feel like things would be okay.

. . .

And things were okay. Sure, the start of their recoveries was...difficult to say the least. It had been hard, even if they didn't have to worry about work for the time being. They had a lot of problems from the aftermath of the fire that were difficult to deal with, and Moon still having some lingering...effects of the Virus was not helpful at the slightest, especially when it caused him to lose his temper over the simplest of things now. But even when he snapped, Sun was still supporting and patient with him, never once getting frustrated with him whenever he snapped, never being annoyed whenever Moon felt too overwhelmed to do anything. Sun would simply pull him into his arms and comfort him, whispering soft words that lulled him into a sense of safety and protection.

Those moments were the ones he had loved most.

Things were perfect this way. Just him and Sun. Together, never once needing to part from one another, having only the other to keep each other company. To comfort one another when they needed it.

Unfortunately, management seemed to have other plans. __

"Opening is next week Moony!" Sun squealed, his eyes shining with excitement as they sat in their room, Moon relaxing in the small loft above their bed while Sun paced around the room. "Can you believe it? After all we've been through, we're actually going to work together again! See the kids again!"

Moon hummed from his spot above, a small frown tugging at his lips as he set down the book he had been reading. "...Yeah. The children." He murmured quietly, voice laced with a hint of reluctance that he hoped wasn't noticeable. Sun however, ever the attentive animatronic, quickly caught the tone that tainted Moon's words, and he paused his pacing. "Aren't you happy to see the children? It's been so long."

Moon sighed, frustrated with himself for not being able to keep his true emotions hidden from Sun, and hesitant at telling Sun why he was almost...dreading the opening of the Daycare. "...It's...stupid." Moon finally said after a moment, putting his book down and turning onto his side, staring at the wall. "But...I guess I'm just...scared." He admitted softly.

Sun frowned, confusion flickering onto his features. "Scared of the children?" He asked, and Moon huffed. "Not the children," he paused. "I'm...scared of the what the children will think when they see me." He explained. "I mean, the last time anyone saw me was when I killed someone. One of the children at that." Moon's voice cracked as he curled in slightly on himself. "They'll all hate me."

The room was silent for a moment, and Moon felt his chest tighten as he waited for the accusations that he knew were coming, for the realization that Moon was bad to hit Sun. But nothing came...instead, he heard the sound of soft padded footsteps across the floor, followed by the sound of someone climbing up the ladder to the loft. "...Moon." Sun's soft voice was gentle as he hesitantly hovered his hand over Moon's curled up form, looking for consent to hold Moon. Moon nodded slightly, feeling a wave of comfort and aching as Sun laid down beside him and pulled him towards his chest. "None of it was your fault. Yes, it may have been done by your hands..." He gently took one of Moon's hands in his. "...but it wasn't you who wanted to. The Virus forced you to do it." He whispered as Moon felt tears prick at his eyes, and he shifted so that he could bury his face into Sun's chest in an attempt to hide his tears. "But I should've tried harder to stop myself...stop the Virus. If I had, maybe..." A small sob escaped him. "...maybe those kids would've been alive."

Sun's embrace tightened around Moon, his own eyes misting over with tears as he listened to his beloved's soft sobs and whimpers. More than anything, he wanted to soothe Moon's worries, to take Moon's pain and suffering and make it his own if only it would make Moon smile. But he couldn't. So instead, he did what he could: "You did the best that you could Moon. You can't blame yourself for something that you couldn't control." He said softly, kissing the top of Moon's head. "And I'm sure the children will understand that and forgive you." He reassured. Moon nodded, but Sun could feel the doubt still lingering in Moon's systems. "...and the parents?" Moon murmured, and Sun let out a soft huff, laced with irritation. "If the parents have anything bad to say to you, then I'll personally kick them out myself." The small threat earned him a small chuckle from Moon, and Sun felt his heart warm at the sound. "

Moon had nothing to worry about...after all, who could hate someone as sweet and soft as his Moon? His Moon, who was nothing but gentle and pure? Who had suffered so much, only to be weighed down by heavy burdens and opinions? Who had been treated so badly that he now saw himself badly as well?

His gentle hold on Moon tightened.

He'd do anything to relieve his beloved of this burdern.

.
.
.

Anything at all.

Chapter Text

"-and remember, if you feel anything going wrong in your systems or are experiencing any familiar static and/or pains, report it immediately," the employee was saying, her eyes flickering over to Moon, who was sitting in a beanbag beside Sun, who was nodding attentively "we can't have any...incidents like before."

The warning tone in her voice made a flicker of guilt and irritation ache inside Moon's chest, and he looked down, slouching further into the beanbag as if could swallow him whole. Sun noticed the small motion out of the corner of his eye, and he flashed the employee a reassuring smile. "Of course, I'm sure there won't be any incidents though! Me and Moon have everything planned out, and I'm sure things will go smoothly." He said, and the employee nodded. "Good to hear it. After closing hours, I would like you both to report to Parts and Service, just for an evaluation of how things went. We're doing it for all of the animatronics to make sure things are going smoothly." She added, and both Moon and Sun nodded. "Yes Ms. Makalya!" "Yes Makalya..."

She smiled at their understanding. "Good. After that, Moon can report to the Vanessa's office for his security shift and partner."

That got both Moon and Sun's attention, though for different reasons. "Security shift...?" "Partner?"

Makalya blinked at their confusion and surprise. "Didn't they tell you? Moon will be resuming his security shift now that he's back in commission...however, he will now be assisted by a partner, since management believed it would be better for someone to be able to keep watch on Moon for any signs of..." She hesitated, before continuing slightly quieter. "...the Virus."

Moon was slightly excited at the idea of getting back into his old security job, since it had been one of the only times he had gotten peace and solitude from work, and it had also been his only excuse to go out of the Daycare. The mention of a partner however dampened his mood slightly, and he frowned. "So...a babysitter?" He said, voice laced with slight annoyance and offense at the idea.

Sun didn't seem pleased either, his practiced smile now faltering slightly.

"Is...it necessary for Moon to have a partner? Parts and Service have already looked over his code and deemed it safe. He doesn't need someone to help him..." Sun's voice was calm, though there was a hint of something else hidden beneath the calm tone.

"Yes, but management doesn't want to take anymore chances...they had already lost some of their revenue due to having to shut down the Daycare because of Moon's inability to work. Not to mention the amount of money they had to pay in damages and compensation for...injuries he had caused." Makalya explained. "They also believe it'd be good for Moon to have a little help during his security rounds, since the Pizzaplex has expanded, and there's a lot more to cover now."

That...sounded reasonable, and Sun knew he didn't have a right to dislike the idea...though it didn't stop the slight ache that stung in his chest. Moon had never had to work with anyone before...for as long as they had been together, it had always been just him and Moon. Even when Moon had been given the chance to talk to other people during his security patrols BEFORE the virus, he had never once given them a second glance...he had instead turned to Sun for company. And it wasn't like Sun had been able to go outside himself and talk to anyone (not that he would've wanted to). So yeah...it had always been just them. Even during the virus, when they had lost connection with one another, they had still been each other's only company.

And now, Moon would have someone else. Sure, he knew that Moon wouldn't actually want to become friends with them or want to talk to them more than necessary, but...there was still a chance he would.

That was what scared Sun.

He had already lost Moon once...the idea of not having Moon around, of having someone unfamiliar around Moon, someone who could potentially hurt Moon...it made him want to break down crying, to beg for Moon to stay, to refuse. He knew that if Moon argued enough, they would probably agree and allow Moon to work by himself again. Then he wouldn't have anyone but him.

.
.
.

But even he knew it was a selfish want. Despite not liking the idea of it, Sun knew Moon deserved some sort of semblance to happiness, to have someone outside of himself to talk to when he needed it...for someone to care for Moon almost as much as he did.

Moon at least deserved that after everything he had went though...and maybe this was his chance to have someone like that.

So he pushed down the negative feelings that were clawing away at his chest, putting on his practiced smile, even if it was slightly more forced than usual. "Well, that sounds great!" He hummed in response, turning to Moon, who had stiffened slightly. "Isn't this great love? You'll finally have some help on your patrols! You have told me once before that it's always a bit difficult to deal with the Glamrocks sometimes, especially Roxanne and Monty...maybe some help is what you need!" He said cheerfully, trying to make Moon feel better about the situation. Moon's shoulders slumped slightly, but he nodded. "I guess so..." He muttered, his ruby red eyes darting down as a flash of hesitation flickered across his expression. "...though, I did prefer the solitude of my patrols."

Sun softened, his heart aching even more at the sound of Moon's tone, and he dropped down beside Moon, his hand reaching out to gently squeeze Moon's. "Moon, I know it's hard for you to be around others, and this isn't exactly the best news...but you can't hide away from everyone forever. It'll be good for you to interact with others, and it'll be even better for you to have some friends outside of just me." He murmured gently, hoping he sounded convincing despite not being convinced of the situation himself.

Moon huffed out a reluctance sigh, knowing Sun was right...even if he didn't like the idea. "Do you want a break from me this badly?" He mumbled, somewhat joking, though Sun didn't seem pleased with his joke, a flash of hurt flickering across Sun's expression. "You know that's not what I want." He said, and Moon sighed, feeling slightly guilty for making Sun upset, and his gaze flickered back to Sun. "I know, I know...I'm just...not sure about this."

Sun gave Moon's hand a quick squeeze before leaning in and pressing a soft kiss to Moon's cheek, his hurt fading into understanding. "I know you're not, but it's for the best, okay? I really think this will be good for you." He whispered, his thumb tracing comforting circles on Moon's hand. "It won't hurt to try and get along with your new partner at least...and if anything goes wrong, or they do something to make you uncomfortable, I'll always be here to help." He assured, and Moon nodded, though it was clear he wasn't fully convinced. Seeing Sun's hope however made him want to give it a shot. Only to please Sun. "Alright then." He finally agreed, and Sun's smile widened. "Thank you."

Makayla then cleared her throat softly, enough to remind the two animatronics that she was still there. "O-Oh, sorry Ms. Makalya." Sun apologized quickly, cheeks flushing slightly in embarrassment and shame for having forgotten about her. "It's fine...I'm actually glad that you two are discussing this; we want Moon to be comfortable with the idea of working with someone, not feel like he's being forced to." She assured gently, giving them both a warm smile. "If you still need time to think about it, I can tell Vanessa to hold off on introductions a bit longer."

Moon looked over at Sun, who was now giving him a hopeful look, as if asking if Moon would really be okay with this. If he was being honest, he wasn't really okay with it at all, but he hated the idea of making Sun worry about him even more than he already did. "No, it's fine. Let's just get it over with." Moon murmured, voice slightly hinted with reluctance and Sun's smile fell slightly. "Are you sure?" He whispered, and Moon nodded, trying his best to look happy about it, though Sun could easily see through his facade. "I'm sure."

Sun's frowned deepened slightly, though he didn't push it. He didn't blame Moon for not wanting this, especially since he didn't want this either...though he was happy Moon was willing to go along with it, since this would be a huge help for Moon to become more comfortable with being around people after being isolated for so long during the Virus. "Alright...just tell me if you change your mind. You still have a week." Sun whispered, before turning back to Makalya. "Thank you for coming." He said, and Makalya smiled. "Just doing my job!" She said, waving. "See you both at the opening soon!" She called out before leaving the Daycare, the door shutting behind her with a soft thud.

Sun turned to Moon, who had slumped back into the bean bag, his arms folded over his chest as he stared at the ceiling. "Are you really okay with this?" Sun asked once more, voice filled with concern. Moon scoffed. "Of course I'm not." He muttered. "I've never had to work with anyone but you...the idea of having to be around someone I don't even know for more than one day sounds like torture." He grumbled, before he glanced back at Sun. "...How about you though? For someone who won't even see my partner that much, you didn't sound too happy about it either." He pointed out, his voice slightly softer now.

Sun felt his cheeks heat up, and his fans whirred softly in embarrassment. He hadn't thought Moon had noticed, and now that he had been caught, he almost felt ashamed. "A-Ah, well...I suppose I'm just..." He thought about it for a moment, trying to go through the mess of emotions that were jumbled up inside of him. "...a little uncomfortable with the idea of you having a partner." Sun admitted. "I've been so used to being the only person you've had to work with...I guess it's just a little difficult to know I'll have to share you now."

Moon softened at Sun's admission, his eyes flickering to meet Sun's now flustered gaze. "You're not sharing me with anyone...I'll only be around this guy if I need to." Moon assured, and Sun gave him a small pout. "Moony, I want you to spend some time with your new partner...I really do think it'll be good for you to have a friend who isn't me." He huffed, and Moon gave him a look. "You're my boyfriend, not just my friend." he grumbled, and Sun couldn't help but chuckle. "All the more reason for you to have a friend instead of only being around your boyfriend." he pointed out, and Moon gave Sun his own small pout. "I like just being around my boyfriend."

The two stared at each other for a moment before they both burst into laughter, Sun's soft giggles mixing with Moon's raspy chuckle. "What am I going to do with such an anti-social boyfriend?" Sun mused, and Moon leaned in. "Love me?" he suggested playfully, and Sun snorted. "Other than that." He giggled, kissing Moon's nose. "Cuddle with me for the rest of the week?" Moon offered, and Sun rolled his eyes. "Maybe not the entire week, since we still have to get ready for opening..." He then pretended to think. "...but I suppose I could make time in my schedule to cuddle with my beloved boyfriend tonight." He relented with a grin, and Moon grinned right back, pulling Sun towards him, earning a soft yelp as the two of them fell back into the beanbag. "I mean in our room!" Sun huffed, though he couldn't stop his laughter as Moon held him tighter. "Too far. Here is good."

Sun let out a fond huff, allowing himself to bury his face into the crook of Moon's neck as a smile slipped onto his lips.

.
.
.

He really wished they could just stay like this forever.

Chapter Text

Opening Day had finally arrived at the Pizzaplex, and despite all of the preparations and planning that he and Sun had done to be ready for the important day, Moon didn't feel prepared in the slightest. He kept glancing at the clock every few minutes, counting down the minutes until the Daycare doors would open, re-checking his appearance to make sure he looked as welcoming as possible, even looking over the entire Daycare three times to make sure everything was in its place.

Noticing his partner's anxious pacing and worrying, Sun gently took Moon's hand and pulled him away from the aerial wire when he noticed Moon about to head up to look over things a fourth time. "Moon, I know you're nervous, but I promise you; everything is going to be fine. We've went over what to do in case of any emergencies, we've practiced our welcome, we've prepared all of the activities for the children to do, and you've already checked over the Daycare. Three times now." He pointed out gently.

Moon let out a nervous laugh, his eyes darting down to their intertwined hands, his grip tightening slightly. "I know, I know, I just...I don't want to mess this up for us. For you." He murmured, and Sun squeezed his hand reassuringly. "You won't. You've always been so good with children, and despite everything that's happened, I know that hasn't changed. And I also know that the children arriving today are going to love you." He promised, placing a soft peck to Moon's cheek.

The tension in Moon's body seemed to fade at that, and his shoulders slumped slightly in ease. "...thanks Sunshine." he murmured, leaning into the affection with a soft sigh. "What would I do without you...?"

"Probably check over the Daycare for a fourth time." Sun quipped, earning a light chuckle from Moon. The gentle teasing helped to ease Moon's anxiety, and he leaned even more into Sun's side, their bodies fitting together almost seamlessly. "I take it back. I'd be fine without you and your rude teasing." Moon huffed, though he was smiling now.

Sun let out a mocked gasp of hurt, his eyes widening dramatically. "And here I thought you appreciated me." He pouted, though his eyes glinted with amusement and affection. Moon chuckled, nuzzling into Sun's side. "I'd appreciate if we could just cancel this whole opening and cuddle in our room instead." He whispered, and Sun rolled his eyes playfully. "As much as I'd love to, we both know that's not an option." He said, though he couldn't hide the hint of longing in his voice.

The corner of Moon's smile twitched down, and he huffed. "I know, I know...but I still wish we could." he murmured, and Sun frowned at the slight disappointment in Moon's eyes. He thought about it for a moment, rays rotating back and forth around his faceplate before he lit up with a grin. "Maybe we can't cuddle, but..." He put an arm around Moon's waist, and before his lunar counterpart could say anything, he scooped Moon up into his arms. "...I'm sure no one will argue to me holding my adorable boyfriend."

Moon let out a squeak of surprise, his cheeks flushing a darker shade of blue as Sun held him up. "S-Sun, put me down!" He protested weakly, though the warmth of Sun's wide grin was enough to make his own grin return. "Nope!" Sun said cheerfully, holding him closer. "You're coming with me!" And with that, he began to spin Moon around in a gentle circle, and Moon couldn't help but laugh at the motion, Sun's own giggle intertwining with his.

.

.

.

He wasn't sure how long the two of them had stayed like that, gently spinning around and holding one another, but the sound of voices outside of the doors was enough to snap the two of them out of their moment of peace. Sun gently set Moon down, both of them a bit dizzy, and Moon took a moment to steady himself. "Right. I almost forgot we had an opening to do." Sun said, his cheeks still a little pink from the exertion and the excitement. He turned towards the door, though not without turning back and extending his hand to Moon. "Ready?"

Moon's smile faltered slightly, hesitant and unsure.

He wanted to say no. That he wasn't ready to face anyone after the mistakes he had made.

He knew Sun would respect his choice, that he would never do anything that would make Moon even the slightest bit uncomfortable. That he'd probably do anything to make sure Moon's comfort was secured.

And as much as he wanted to lean into that safety, that security, he also knew how much Sun had been wanting this. And even though Sun would probably assure him that he was fine with postponing the opening, he knew Sun would be disappointed. Something he couldn't stand the thought of seeing in those warm blue eyes.

So, with a deep breath, Moon took Sun's hand, putting on a shaky but reassuring smile. "Ready as I'll ever be I suppose."

Sun looked relieved, squeezing Moon's hand once for comfort before unlatching the door with a soft click.

.

.

.

The Daycare was quickly flooded with the sound of parents and their excited children, the chatter filling the air with a mix of anticipation and joy. The sight of the kids' wide eyes and smiling faces as they saw Sun and Moon standing by the entrance was almost overwhelming, but Sun's firm grip on his hand kept him grounded as they walked to greet everyone.

And despite no words being exchanged between them, he could almost hear Sun's voice in his head anyways, encouraging him. 'You got this Moony. Just like we rehearsed.'

Right. Exactly like they rehearsed.

With a deep breath, Moon stepped forward, the bells around his wrists jinglingly softly in tune with his steps. The children's faces lit up even more as they saw him approach, and for a moment, his heart swelled with happiness at their genuine excitement.

He had almost forgotten how much he had missed seeing their tiny faces, how nice it felt that they were excited to see him. The feeling was like a warm embrace after being kept in the cold from the distance of the Virus, and he found his anxiety lowering somewhat.

And with Sun by his side, they began their introduction.

"Welcome to Superstar Daycare!"

__________

The morning was simple enough: forms were signed, documents were scanned, and worried parents were reassured by the two Daycare Attendants, with Sun admittedly doing most of the reassuring. He had always been the more charming of the two of them, the one who could put people at ease with his gentle and warm smile. The one who had had (and still had) the patience and kindness to win over even the most skeptical of parents. Before the Virus, Moon remembered admiring Sun's way with words, the way he could make anything seem better. It had never failed to make him proud of his beloved.

Even now he couldn't help the slight swell of pride he felt as he watched Sun interact with the little ones, his eyes sparkling with delight and his voice filled with genuine love and adoration for the children as he performed a small juggling trick to get the kids to laugh. It was nice seeing Sun so happy, like he had was back where he belonged after being denied of his place for so long.

The moment that though floated into his mind, a flicker of guilt stabbed through his chest knowing that he was the reason Sun had been denied of that place. But he quickly pushed his guilt aside with a shake of his head. He didn't want to ruin Sun's happiness with his negative feelings, especially since Sun had already had to deal with them for the past few weeks. Sun deserved to have at least this day be problem-free, especially since he had been looking forward to it.

So, with a sigh, he turned his focus back over to Sun, who was still entertaining the kids. The sight was endearing to watch, and as tempted as he was to just let Sun perform the entire day, they did have a schedule to keep to.

With a quiet huff, Moon walked over, gently tapping Sun on the shoulder. "Sunny...mind helping out with our first activity?" Moon asked gently, chuckling softly when Sun dropped the balls in his hands at the sudden distraction. "O-Oh, right! Sorry Moony!" He apologized sheepishly, quickly gathering the children he had been entertaining and leading them towards the rest of the group, Moon walking by his side with a smile.

It would be fine. He would be fine.

...He had to be. For Sun.

______________

The morning progressed more smoothly than Moon had anticipated. The children had been a bit chaotic in the beginning, and it DID take a while to get them under control...though once they had gotten past that issue, the rest of the activities went off without a hitch. The kids seemed delighted when Sun matched their endless energy with ease, and he managed to keep them entertained all the way up until naptime, which Moon had initially refused to take on.

He had tried insisting that Sun handle it too, in fear that he would do something wrong or scare one of the kids. But Sun had simply reassured him that he would be okay, gently pushing him towards the Naptime Area with a smile. So, with a quiet sigh, he had reluctantly walked towards the waiting children, his footsteps silent and hesitant, as if any noise would send them all running...and he was expecting them to run. To be scared, even though he knew that there was no reason for them to be scared of him.

But Sun had been right. The moment Moon had approached them, all they did was simply look up at him, too tired to do anything but drift into sleep once Moon had begun to tell them a story.

Seeing them with their eyes closed and listening to their soft breathing and occasional snores had made something in Moon's chest ache with a fondness that he had missed feeling, and he couldn't help but feel proud once he managed to get everyone to sleep. The encouraging grin he received from Sun made him feel even prouder.

.
.
.

By the end of the day, Moon had to admit, he was surprised by how well the rest of the day had gone. Sure, there had been a couple of tantrums over toys, a few spilled drinks, and one unfortunate incident with glitter that had gotten absolutely everywhere, but it had been manageable. Far more manageable than he had originally thought everything would be, and he was almost sad to see the kids go, watching as the last few kids walked out the doors with their parents.

Though he didn't get a chance to feel sad for long, because he was caught off guard by a certain animatronic.

"You did great love! I knew you would do amazing." Sun said happily, wrapping his arms around Moon from behind and pulling him into a tight squeeze. Moon jolted at the sudden touch but soon relaxed into it, allowing Sun to hold him. "Couldn't have done it without you Sunny." He murmured, turning slightly to kiss Sun's cheek.

"You would've done just fine without me." Sun said, his voice filled with affection as he kissed Moon's cheek in return. "But I'm happy I could be here to help." he added, hugging Moon tighter for a brief moment before letting go, his smile faltering slightly. "Too bad you won't be here to help me clean up all this mess." He tried his best to make his tone light and joking, though there was a slight tension to his words that Moon didn't miss.

Moon's smile faded, replaced by a small frown. When he had informed Vanessa that he would be willing to meet his new security partner tonight, he had been mainly doing it for Sun. Sun had seemed so insistent on the whole thing, but whenever he had brought it up this past week, Sun had been quick to change the subject. Despite all his reassurances, Sun hadn't seemed any more comfortable with it at all. "Sun...I told you I can tell Vanessa to call off the whole 'partner' thing. I'm not going to be around someone if it will make you uncomfortable." Moon said, stepping back to take Sun's hands into his. "You always make sure that I'm comfortable with whatever you do...I want you to feel comfortable to. To know that you're okay with this."

But Sun only gave Moon a forced smile, one that could have easily fooled anyone if Moon hadn't known him for so long. "Moon, this isn't about me. You need this. You need someone to talk to, to trust in when you can't trust in me." He said softly, squeezing Moon's hands. "I just want you to be happy."

"Sun, this isn't JUST about me! You're my boyfriend, we're supposed to set boundaries, agree on things together!" Moon protested, his grip tightening slightly on Sun's hands. "If you're not okay with it, I don't want to do it."

"Moon, it's fine, really." Sun's voice was soft, yet there was hint of relief. It really was fine with him. He couldn't say that he was exactly pleased with Moon having a security partner, but he could manage with it just fine. And it was reassuring to know that Moon would stop this if it made him uncomfortable.

That was all he needed.

"Just go and meet them, okay? I'll manage the Daycare just fine on my own." He said with a gentle squeeze of Moon's hands, trying to keep his tone as even and calm as possible. "Please?"

Moon didn't look the least bit pleased or convinced, but he softened slightly at the slight pleading in Sun's tone. "...Fine." He relented, his shoulders slumping. "But if you weren't okay with it, you'd tell me...right?"

.
.
.

Would he?

"I..."

If it meant taking something that could potentially make Moon happy after so much suffering...

"..."

...then no. He wouldn't. He couldn't.

"...Of course I would.”

He'd deal with his insecurities and problems on his own if it meant Moon would feel okay with having a partner and potential friend.

Moon looked a little more relieved at that, and he smiled warmly. "Good." He leaned in, kissing Sun's cheek. "I'll be back soon, okay?" He whispered, and Sun nodded, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.

"...Alright."

The two of them stood there for a moment, not quite letting go of each other before Moon finally moved, hesitantly stepping back as his hands slipped from Sun's. Sun reached out for a second before pulling back, allowing Moon to leave. Moon gave him one last smile before turning away and walking towards the door, saying something about how he would try to come back as soon as he could.

But Sun couldn't hear him. All he could focus on was Moon stepping out of the door, before it finally shut closed behind with a soft thud. For something so quiet, the sound was almost deafening to him, and Sun stood there amidst the silence. Staring at where Moon had been.

.

.

.

He didn't like the silence, he decided. It reminded him too much of...

_______
"M-Moony? Moon? Please...answer me....!"
_______

...that.

Of being left alone in the silence, with no one to talk to. Just him. Alone. With his thoughts.

.

.

.

...It was going to be a long night.