Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The barrel shook in Sun's hands, and the yellow bot took a step back, staring at the spot where the red and feral animatronic who had terrorised their life had just been standing.

What had he done?…

What would Moon say?...

Surely-..... It was self defence! It would be fine!

… right?
It had to be.

“Sun?! Sun! What was that? Did you set one of the barrels off?!” Speak of the devil-

Moon rushed towards Sun, clearly having just come down from the tower, immediately pushing the barrel out of his dear Sun's hands. The metal weapon crashed to the floor, though luckily the sound was quieted by the padding beneath their feet.

Blue and white hands snatched up yellow and beige, holding them tight and close. Lunar-model elbows hooked over solar ones, and their entwined digits were pressed to his chest.

"Are you alright? What happened?? Did you get hurt?”

The other's care made the tears finally well up in Sunny's eyes from the doting care of his best friend.

“I- I’m fine Moonie- I swear…. It was just Bloodmoon-”

Sun was cut off by Moon’s engrossing panic. “Those twins were here? Where did they go? Did they take anything?”

Sometimes, the solar animatronic couldn’t help but think his lunar counterpart worried far too much for far too little. He lowered his faceplate down to rest the top of it against Moon’s own, bringing the focus back on himself.

“I said I was fine… I- I used the barrel on them, they’re…. They’re gone, Moon… I- I killed them”

Sun hunched his shoulders in, shutting his optics, he didn’t want to see the possible look of disgust or horror on Moon’s face, anyone else would’ve been fine, but not Moon, no, never him.

There was a stutter from Moon’s inner fans, he picked up on the spike in speed, before the lunar animatronic spoke up.

“O-okay, we can work with this, it’s fine…. KC isn’t doing anything- so- it’ll be okay, just breathe, we can get through this…. I’m glad you’re safe…”

Sun nodded silently, oil pooling at the corners of his optics, causing him to blink in an attempt to clear them. The spike of fear and adrenaline had exhausted him, and he stared at the other numbly as Moon lifted their intertwined hands up to his faceplate and pressed it against his knuckles.

"Sun? Talk to me," Came his gravelly voice, pulling Sun out of his stupor just a little more.

Before Sun could even begin to respond, they were interrupted by the sound of someone crashing into the ballpit, before waddling right back out and dashing to the two of them.

“Sunny! Moonie! Are you okay?! You didn’t say anything about it being safe yet, I got worried-”

Lunar exclaimed as he came to stand by the duo, his star-tipped tail whooshing back and forth as the energetic ball of a child-animatronic stared up at them.

Sun couldn’t help but jump slightly at the sudden proximity of Lunar, as Moon sighed and rested his faceplate fully against their hands, partially out of exasperation.

“... Did I interrupt something I shouldn’t have again?..”

“N-no, Lunar, you’re fine, I’m fine! See, no problem what-so-ever!” Sun was quick to reassure, finally removing his hands from Moon’s own, and stepping back slightly to properly face both animatronics.

There was a slight flash of disappointment across Moon's faceplate but it was ignored. "Just- some adult stuff. Don't worry about it, bud," He hummed, putting a hand on the top of the small bot's head and ruffling his hat.

They pouted "Is it that stuff I hear humans talk about? What is it called again.. fff- fu-? fuuc-"

"No! Nothing like that! N-nope!" Sun's glow momentarily clicked on before he forced it off, blank eyes widening. "Absolutely not! Just- uhm-" he turned his head away, ashamed "problems.."

"What kind of problems? I want to know!" Lunar crossed his arms with a huff, pouting "Tell me! I hate when you guys keep secrets from me…"

Moon hesitated before sighing, eyebrows furrowing. He dropped his hand, averting his eyes from the small, lunar model, not wanting to tell him but also not wanting to make him feel betrayed by not. "Something.. something happened to Bloodmoon."

Lunar tilted his head, expression faltering. "Bloody…? What happened?? Are they okay?" The concern was evident. Even after the blood-thirsty animatronic had tormented them, he still couldn't help himself from caring about them.

The two older celestials shared a look, and it was clear they were both hesitant to share the fateful demise of someone who the smaller bot used to consider practically a brother.

"Listen.. Lunar.." Moon sighed, getting down on his knee to be on his level. "Sometimes… sometimes things happen to people and they.. they have to leave and we don't see them again."

"Like Eclipse?"

The question made the other two wince, Moon glancing at Sun, who refused to look at either of them.

"Not- not exactly, LuLu. More… more like going to sleep and never waking up…"

"Oh, like.. like dying-?"

Moon sighed "exactly… something happened, and.. and Bloodmoon is dead"

Lunar whined loudly. It was high pitched and full of grief, and it just…
It broke Sun's heart.

"I'm so, so sorry.." he choked out, dropping to his knees and pulling Lunar into his arms. They clung to him, muffling their sobs. Sun just held him close to his chest, letting them cry it out. "I'm sorry…"

It took a moment for Lunar to get himself calmed down enough to speak. He sat back just a tad, letting Moonie wipe away his tears gently. "Wh-why are you apologising-? I-it's not like it's your fault…"

One of Moon's hands immediately planted itself on Sun's shoulder, squeezing it as the solar bot whimpered in distress.

"Lunar- listen to me, alright? Can you promise not to freak out? Please?" Sun’s hands shook from where they rested against the small animatronic's back, supporting him so he could sit up straight.

"Why? Sunny… MooMoo.. what- what happened-?" Lunar looked up at the two, looking between them both with wide, innocent eyes.

"..." Sun hung his head low, screwing his optics shut "They.. they came here to antagonise me, LuLu. They- they were dressed up as Moon, and-" he cut himself off with a small, quiet sob, having to pull away his hands so his claws didn't dig into his smaller casing.

Moon took one of Sun's hands in two of his own, squeezing it in comfort. He took over the explanation for him. "It was self defence, Lunar. Sun.. he didn't mean to."

Instead of a look of betrayal like the two had been expecting, all that crossed Lunar's face was.. understanding. "I- I get it." He sniffed, taking a deep breath "I- I don't like it. But I understand… they- they weren't good, no- no matter what I hoped for…"

Sun blinked his eyes back open, optics glistening with oil "really…?" Gods, he sounded pathetic…

"Really!" The small bot was quick to reassure his older.. brother-? Their relationship wasn't very well-established. "I mean.. I- I need some time to process, but-.."

"N-no! I- I get that! You- you go to your room, we'll talk later." Sunny murmured. Lunar nodded and got up out of his lap, giving the two one last meaningful look before rushing out to go up to the theatre, where the button that sent them up to the castle was.

Once their younger… sibling? Was gone, Moon turned his attention back to the still-shaking solar bot. He leaned in closer, pressing his lips to the back of his hand "are you alright, sunshine..?" He murmured, "I get if this is a lot…"

"I- I'm fine, Moon. I'll be fine.." he sighed, sniffing. He brought his free hand up to wipe a few stray tears away with the heel of his palm. "I'll deal with it.."

"You don't have to deal with it alone, Sunny.. we've talked about this…" Moon bonked the top of his faceplate gently against the side of other's. "I'm here for you. You don't have to go through this by yourself."

Sun turned his head away. "I know- I just…"

"Just nothing. I love you, okay? I'll always be here for you."

"... alright"

—

A loud static sound ripped through the speaker's in Eclipse's lab.

"What the actual FUCK?!"

The solar bot wished he could break something! Where were those brats' signal?!

Eclipse forced himself to take a deep breath, or at least, the equivalent of it from where he was stuck inside Killcode’s dumb security system. Whatever. It.. it was fine. Maybe.. maybe…
.. God he couldn't even think of another reason it would be gone…

They were dead, weren't they?

Eclipse's mind immediately began to race. How? Why? How was Killcode going to react??
He was fucked…

…
They were gone.

This- this wasn’t supposed to happen, not like this- he hadn’t had the chance to properly apologise- or- or even make up for the issues he’d caused them before his demise.

He only just got his brothers back- the family he had initially started, carved out of his own code to try and be less alone. Now he was back to square one.

Stuck, terrified and clueless, left at the mercy of an idiotic and selfish prick of a code, parading as the ‘Father’ of this place.

Would Killcode retaliate?.... Would he even care?.... Surely he would- they’re-... he favoured the twins- they were his sons, more so than Eclipse could ever hope to be.

And they were gone.

Gone- forever- he never made backups, why didn’t he make backups? Why didn’t he think they’d do something rash- by the lords above he was such a fool.

Had he truly overestimated the twin’s capabilities? He built them, that casing, that programming, he designed it, Monty only copied what he made- why didn’t he think?

…. He couldn’t even say goodbye…. He couldn’t apologise, he couldn’t see them again- he’s-... He’s alone again… Ha ha- would Killcode get rid of him now?

Would Killcode consider this… his fault? For letting the twins loose? For losing them- he gave them the idea to antagonise Sun after all…. And their last ping that was picked up was at the daycare…

Was it his fault? Had he ultimately been the one to bring his last remaining semblance of a chance at family, to their own death?

Truly- how-... Unfortunate…

Maybe Moon was right, maybe he truly was simply cursed, doomed to lose the people closest to him, hurting them in ways he hadn’t even planned to-

First Lunar- Now Bloodmoon…

Could he even say it wasn’t deserved?... Lunar seemed so much happier with Sun and Moon-.... He’d only tried to do what he knew- he knows he doesn’t have the best example- but-

It was hard, trying to accommodate and work around the needs of someone so young, he hadn’t meant to make Lunar a child- it was an accident- he didn’t know how to handle it- please he didn’t-

….

He’s getting off track…. This isn’t the time… He has… A report to make….

Best let Killcode know to return and hear the news…. Or worse, he hears about it from Moon.

Chapter Text

"What did…. You need from me?"

Killcode slurs out of his voice box as he walks into Eclipse’s lab, looking at the mess of papers, materials, and waste of space that the solar bot had requested and required for his work in the bunker they called “home”.

The cameras in the room had turned on and come to face his presence, indicating that Eclipse was up and focusing on him.

“Ah Killcode… So you don’t know?”

Don’t know?.. What was this insolent child talking about now?

Killcode dragged himself further into the lab, right up towards the main processors he knew Eclipse rested within, looking down at it briefly, before tilting his faceplate towards one of the cameras.

“What is it….. That I do not know…. My son?”

He tagged that last bit in the end simply to get on Eclipse’s nerves. He knows how little the solar bot believed it, but he had to keep up the pretence, if nothing more than for the sake of keeping the other’s services in his favour.

“Bloodmoon… their signal has shut down, they’ve died, last pinged at the daycare.”

".... so? Why should…. I care?"

Oh that hit a nerve if the loud, suddenly static sound from above was anything to go by. It cut off quickly, and it was clear it was an attempt to keep his emotions hidden and in check, it did little to fool him though.

".. the fuck do you mean why should you care?"

The question was gruff, yet full of so much despair and hatred, Eclipse truly wore his emotions on his sleeves, like an open book.

So much time seeing the twins be treated at the favourites. So much time having this so-called "father" treat him like absolute shit. So much time wondering if Killcode even cared about him, only to find out he barely even cared about Bloodmoon??

"I mean why… should I care? They were a… means to an end. A tool that…… long since expired. They undoubtedly brought.… upon their own demise. I hold no.. sympathy."

"No-" Eclipse's growl reverberated through the room, "no you don't just get to- you called them your sons! You acted like you loved them- what the fuck is wrong with you?!"

“Watch it.”

Killcode stated with an air of finality, he could listen to Eclipse rant if the solar bot needed it oh so badly, but he wouldn’t take any insolence. He relaxed his frame, able to perceive the way the lights flickered in response to him.

“The twins…. Preferred it that way. To me…. You are my son, you come directly from…. My code…. They come from the part of me…. You ripped out…. Not mine…. Not fully….. All yours”

That would calm him down, surely? His plight with the twins was ridiculous, mildly entertaining at best, but- not worth having to deal with the constant nagging for attention and food and need to learn magic, something he wouldn’t offer anyway… not to those two brats at least.

Eclipse remained silent, which wasn’t much of a surprise to Killcode regardless, but…. It brought the question on what was running through his circuits to keep him quiet for so long…. A quiet Eclipse was a scheming one, and with the twins no longer able to distract him-

No that would not do.

"Perhaps…. If you would prefer to not be my son?"

Oh.

Oh Eclipse knew that was a threat.

"N-no!" He sputtered. His anger was starting to brew again. Two of his "sons" died, and now he was threatening his last one?? "Just… you can't be serious! You're not even a little fucking upset they're gone??"

"...no"

"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!" He screamed so loud the speakers popped and had to momentarily reset and readjust before he could speak again, and speak he did "They weren't just a tool! They were fucking sentient beings! They didn't deserve-”

“ENOUGH.”

Killcode interrupted Eclipse’s madness as he slammed his claws through one of the central unit’s main processors, taking pleasure in the sounds of static and broken cries from the speakers.

It hurt, good. He should remember his place.

“I am your father. You…. are to listen to me…. I will not tolerate your…. Blatant defiance…. You live, only because I let you…. You are of my code…. You will do as you…. Are told to. Understood?”

There was no response, not after the speakers stopped fuzzing, or even after Killcode removed his fingers.

There was nothing. That wasn’t good enough.

“I said…. Do you understand, Eclipse….. I expect… an answer when I ask a question…”
“I-... I understand.” Eclipse grumbled out from the speakers, reluctance and avoidance clear in his tone, tch, it seems Killcode would have to just take what he could get… Eclipse will learn in time… Just like Moon did.

“Regardless… to get another point out….. What about the…. Weapon?..... Your…. Flare?”

Eclipse stuttered briefly, before quickly speaking up, “Solar flare?.... You still want me to-... make him?... What would you even need him for? You have your stupid magic-”

The glare Killcode had shot the second main processor quickly stopped Eclipse in his tracks, the speakers turning off, resetting, and coming back online again.

“...Right-.... Well- I’m still working on the blueprints…. Can’t afford him to not be up to your standards after all…”

"I shall…. Leave you to it…. Then."

And with that, he left, stalking out of the solar bot’s lab and out and about, possibly even out the bunker and to god knows where.

Eclipse grumbled within the confines of his systems, curling up in the mindscape he resided in. He laid on the cloudy floor, pain shooting through every part of him, the broken processor effectively slowing his systems down.

Damned Killcode…

He huffed, forcing himself up and practically stomping over to the small workbench he had manifested within the interface, a simple trick really, a mock attempt at trying to remain sane over being trapped inside another metaphorical mindscape.

He snatched up the blueprints of the Solar Flare robot he had been planning on making, initially as both a glorified babysitter, and to keep his “family” safe…

Family…. What a joke, he can’t believe he fell for that- how utterly foolish of himself-... He promptly ripped the blueprint in half.

He tossed them to the side, letting them dissolve in the air and “deleting” itself from his files, before creating another blueprint, sitting down at the small desk chair and grabbing a pencil in his shaky hand.

A mockery of what it would be like in reality, but a mockery would do.

If Killcode wanted to pretend, fine.

He could pretend too.

He needed to get out of here.

He needed a body.

Seemed he had a lot of work to get through.

If he was going to do this, he’d have to play it smart and long.

Obviously the main point of why he should leave would be leaving Killcode behind, finally having that freedom he’d been dreaming and begging for since he woke up in Sun’s mindscape, forgotten and trapped and-

He’s getting off track- Pros were too easy to get lost in, redirect, refocus… What’s keeping him here? Why stay?

The obvious problem would be Killcode chasing after him, he was too much of a useful “tool” to let leave- the risk of being found out while he tries to make himself a body and facing the consequences of that-

Oh- Even after he leaves, what then?

What good is there for him to even try?

He’s got nothing, not a single soul or thing to his name, he’s burnt any and all bridges he’d “formed” the moment he tried being himself-

Lunar hates him, probably, why else would he help Monty kill him? Moon was an obvious no-go, that bot would probably laugh in his face and let Killcode do with him as he pleases- No- he couldn’t afford that.

Sun?.... What a joke, he’s wrapped around Moon’s finger-

Truly… He’s got nothing… He knows nobody, and he knows nowhere where he’d go anyway, he has no resources, this bunker was Moon’s for heaven’s sake!

No- No- he’s losing himself into a loop… Again.

Get a grip.

Stop.

Just think, think, think you fool.

Okay- Pros and Cons aside- that’s an endless loop of realisations and dread he’d rather not open again, he can’t stay, it was already bad when Killcode’s attention was divided, he doubted it would get any better now.

Just-... take it one step at a time, right.

This is fine. He can work with this.

The body needs a design first, he can- figure the rest along the way.

He’s got time.

…

At least he hopes he does.