Chapter Text
The first thing Moon learned about children is that you cannot stifle them. They can not make a child put away the plushie that gave them comfort nor make them place their sleeping mat far from their friends. They cannot force a child to sleep if they aren’t tired, only gently persuade the little starlight to close their eyes and try not to wake the others from their naps. You can only guide, not demand. It is not the chaos of exploration Sun deals with, but Moon has dealt with children having conflicting desires and needs to their programming, to their wants. It’s why they did not say anything when Sun slowly opened the vent once more for the Music Men, drawing out the moment even as Sun’s voicebox didn’t waver from its cheerful ramblings. Could not bring themselves to comment as the Music Men had circled around Sun’s legs while playing the tune for “happy” but still, still scurrying back into the vent. It’s expected. Normal even. Moon doesn’t know why they’d thought the Music Men would stay. Even just for one more night. It was clear that the Music Men loved the vents. The vents were their home and the Superstar Daycare was just a novelty needed to keep them safe for the time they couldn’t be there. Like it always is. Like it always will be.
Sun is quiet now, like they always are after a day's work. It’s not the quiet that comes from tiredness, as an animatronic they physically can’t get tired. Moon aches with the weight of it, almost can’t bear it. Sun is meant for cheer and wonder and joy . And Moon hates with the heart they and Sun built together that they cannot chase the sadness that plagues them away.
Hate is a word Moon is familiar with, sadness even closer and loneliness is something they had always known. Between the two of them, Moon sinks into the darker emotions easier. Holds them longer with an ugly passion that Sun can never quite bring themselves to reach. Moon doesn’t mind. Doesn’t mind that Sun has more patience than they do. Holds people closer than they should or tries to see kindness instead of cruelty. Moon will remember every slight, hold every grudge and take any punishment if it means that Sun will continue to shine with their love for the world. Because Moon wants to love the world too. Wants so desperately that they cannot put it into words. Wants to see the happiness the starlights describe, feel the belonging they radiate.
“Do you think they’ll visit again?” Sun mutters, adjusting the blankets they used for the Music Men. They don’t fold them away, don’t even move the blankets significantly, just absentmindedly pluck particles of dust.
The blanket nest is just another part of their room now, Moon thinks, like every drawing from the starlights and broken things they’ve hidden. Not to be thrown away and not to be cleaned up either. Flowers for a tomb for someone they aren’t anymore and never will be. Moon wonders if they still believe the childish wish that maybe, just maybe, one day someone will see it and ache with the same grief Moon and Sun will carry forever. Will handle them with a softness that is not tainted with the fact they share the same body and cradle the other with their own hands.
“ They might… ” Moon forces the words out, soft and tender. Hope is not something Moon can afford to believe in but Sun does. Believes enough for the both of them. And that’s enough for Moon not to crush it so easily as so many others have tried.
“Might. Maybe. Tomorrow. Next Week. Sometime. Whenever. Never Never always. Even if they stayed tonight, they’d leave the next night or the night after that or after that or after that-” Sun cuts themselves off with a whimper, hunching over.
“ Sunrise- Sunrise, I know. I know. But we know where the Music Men are, know they are safe. We can still hear the echo in the vents, they’re not gone. Still here, still under our protection. ” Moon tries to soothe, a desperate twinge in their own words. They hate seeing Sun like this, feeling like this.
“But not here. Nobody stays here. Nobody to talk to and play with. Nobody to sing to sleep. Nobody to come back to. Nobody who cares . “ Sun rambled, voice box hitching between words.
“ I know. I know, Sunrise. But you still have me. You’ll always have me- ”
“You don’t count! You're-” Sun cuts themselves off, realising a bit too late what they were about to say.
“... You’re not me, Sun. ” Moon said after a pause, trying to hide the hurt they were feeling, “ I’m not you, either. ” Moon said, this time more for themselves. Moon was just as alive as Sun was, even if it was difficult to tell where Sun began and Moon ended in their code. They shared a body, shared the same processors, but they were both separate. Distinct. Real . Otherwise they still would be The Daycare Attendant and not Sun and Moon.
“I’m sorry.” Sun’s voice wobbled. “I didn’t mean it like that. You’re right. You’re always right. You’re my Moon and you’re always there for me. I shouldn’t- shouldn’t have snapped at you. I’m so sorry” Sun hugs themselves tightly.
“ I wish I could be enough for you, Sunrise. ” Moon says and it wasn’t an admonishment, just a quiet wish. Acknowledgement that they both had no one else and that neither could be everything the other needed no matter how hard they both try.
Moon softly starts their music box, and Sun begins to slowly rock themselves back and forth. They continue to mutter apologies. Moon counters each one with gentle reassurances.
(I’m here and I know I’ll never be enough but I’m still here and we’re still lonely but at least we’re lonely together and that
means
something to me. To you. And that's enough, it has to be enough. Please let it be enough.)
*
Moon lets out a stimulated sigh of relief when Sun begins to send out the greetings to the staff bots below, even if it's done in a more subdued manner. No matter how many times Moon has said they were no longer upset, Sun hasn’t fully recovered from their earlier breakdown, rattled with guilt and shame. Not even a difficult flip at the start of Moon’s patrol could get Sun to laugh the way Moon loves and it agitates them to no end. They take comfort that Sun hadn’t fully withdrawn, the greetings proof that Sun wasn’t spiraling into a worse state.
Moon makes sure to lower themselves down once they reach the Fazcade, the arcade machines and varying ceiling heights making it difficult to see all the potential hiding places from far above. Officer Rose does not patrol here as intensively because of all the stairs and Moon had promised to be more thorough to make up for her slack. It is a kindness they afford her for being one of the few staff members Moon can tolerate (and one of few that say their name with respect and not condescending humour).
The thing is, one of the constants of the West Arcade is the fact that DJ Music Man sleeps. There are times when it plays music for the Glamrocks but those times Moon doesn’t bother to do more than a cursory check of the ballroom. Half because they know DJ Music Man is a security bot in its own right and half because they had wanted to limit the chances of the Glamrocks hurting Sun more with their hostility. Those times are rare however, especially after
their failure
Foxy and Bonnie. DJ Music Man sleeps and Moon checks that nobody is hiding where they shouldn’t.
It is why it’s Sun that disengages their hook command when DJ Music Man moves to grab Moon when they pass, Moon taken too off guard to think of it. Their faceplate spins in agitation as they squirm, wary. The grip isn’t tight enough to cause their silicone to strain but it’s firm enough that Moon can’t slip out. Moon doesn’t trust it. They should have known. Their kindness was rarely rewarded and Moon knows they’ve been hurt for less. Sun was hurt for less. Moon braced themselves for the worst.
“ ...Oh? ” Sun muttered a little delighted and awed.
DJ Music Man had started to play a low drawn out viola note, bringing its face close to Moon and gently, so very gently rubbing it against them.
“ Like a cat! ” Sun cooed and Moon could only agree in shock.
“Sunsh- AND Mooon, thank you. Kept my [Music Men] SAFE.” DJ Music Man spoke, the words clearly spliced together from different songs.
Moon just stared as DJ Music Man loosened its grip and set them on its palm, its eyes flashing stars that illuminated its face. They stepped slightly back but Dj Music Man just leaned more forward and it struck Moon that it looked exactly like a starlight when Moon was telling a bedtime story. Their posture softened.
“ Moonlight, say you're welcome! Look at it, it's waiting on us! ” Sun chastised, giddy with excitement.
“...You’re welcome, DJ Music Man.” Moon rasped, lightly patting its thumb. “Your Music Men were well behaved.” They add mostly out of habit. Parents always were nicer when Sun and Moon assured them that their child had been good. Less confrontational. And Moon still was wary of the fact that DJ Music Man was talking to them.
“ DJ Music Man has never been mean before. ” Sun reminds and Moon concedes to that at least.
“ Dooo? You [WANT] to join me? ” Dj Music Man asked, head tilting slightly and eyes flashing a question mark.
A popup appears in Moon’s vision and immediately fills them with a sense of dread. No. Absolutely not. At least not now. They can feel Sun’s confusion settle close to where the fear floods Moon’s systems. It’s the same almost primal fear Moon feels when electricity sparks over their circuit boards or when they are strapped to the maintenance table, powerless to stop anything.
[Device: DJ MUSIC MAN requests access to your systems?]
[ACCEPT? CANCEL?]
“ Moon- ” Sun starts but Moon interrupts.
“ Absolutely not. ” They hissed to Sun, “ Don’t even try poking at the code until we’re back at the Daycare. ”
“ Okay, Okay I won’t. I promise I won’t, Moonlight. ” Sun reassures but Moon doesn’t relax, half formed thoughts and theories keeping them tense.
Moon refocuses on DJ Music Man. The animatronic hasn’t moved again, just patiently watching. The palms Moon stands on stays lax and the question marks showing in its eyes have stopped flashing, remaining a still image. Moon can’t read it. Can’t gauge what the motive is for sending such a request. They feel even more frustrated when Sun gives them the warning for the lights.
“ Go? ” DJ Music Man says, a pitched low harp note overlaying the word. Moon had been half ready for DJ Music Man to try and stop them from leaving but instead it moved its palm to help boost their momentum. It just filled Moon with more questions that they didn’t have time to ask as they made their way back to the daycare.
*
Sun paced, thoughts racing as they kept glancing at the request DJ Music Man sent. It was one of the largest animatronics in the Mega Pizzaplex so even though they were far away from the West Arcade, the connection wasn’t lost. The popup remained in view, Moon’s rushed command made it so that Sun hadn’t even dismissed it to their inbox.
“What was that, Moon?” Sun asks carefully.
“ DJ Music Man thanked us for keeping the Music Men safe- ”
“Not that,” Sun said firmly, although they also couldn’t believe DJ Music Man had thanked them either, “ You were scared. You are scared about this” Sun gestures to the request. There was a pause before Moon speaks.
“ .... It wasn’t safe. It’s safe now. ” Moon mutters reluctantly.
Sun tilts their face plate, pausing in their pacing. They can follow Moon’s trail of thought better than their own sometimes and so it doesn’t take long to decipher what Moon meant by that. A rush of exasperated fondness fills their chest mixed with worried concern.
“DJ Music Man won’t give us a virus, Moon.”
“ You don’t know that- ” They hissed.
“And if it did” Sun interrupts, “ You shouldn’t be the one who has to take care of it. I’m capable of dealing with intruders in our code. It wouldn’t be safe for you either. Let me-”
“ Absolutely not ” Moon hissed but it sounded more frustrated than upset. “ I- You can’t. Let me protect you for once. ”
Sun froze, taken aback at the desperation in Moon’s words. They didn’t like thinking about it. Sun messes up more than Moon does. Talks too much or talks down to the wrong employee one too many times. Or sometimes just too cheerful near someone who can’t stand it. It’s Sun’s fault for not adapting fast enough, for not understanding the rules properly. And then it’s just…
(Electricity. Enough volts that it sparks arcs between their joints. Enough to lock their gears and make them topple over. Indescribable.
No No No I’m sorry I’m sorry please please please I’ll be better-I’ll be better-)
Punishment. Moon does what they can to help and Sun cherishes the comfort they give after every punishment but the simple fact of the matter is that Sun is out more than Moon. More chances to screw up. Sun never forgets how much of a burden it must be to have to deal with Sun’s carelessness all the time.
“ Please? ”
“Fine. Fine but maybe we’re overthinking this. DJ Music Man hasn’t done anything to warrant distrust. Maybe it just wants an easier way to communicate if another maintenance on the vents is scheduled?” Sun tried to reassure Moon as they started to pace again. Moon hummed unconvinced.
“I don’t- I don’t think we’ve ever talked to DJ Music Man. Before today.” Their bells jingled as they gestured, “I mean DJ Music Man always sleeps. Recharges. It’s not like we have many conversations with the Glamrocks either…” Sun spun around harshly “BUT! It wasn’t like DJ Music Man was upset at us before and it hadn’t been upset today. It did thank us. Besides the little sunshines the last person to thank us was…”
“I would have liked to have been a proper crewmate to you, Sun and Moon .“
Sun faceplate spins in agitation, shaking the memory off. A different type of worry grinds against their gears and now Sun needs to know DJ Music Man will be okay. Will not do something that’ll risk it being decommissioned.
“Moon-”
“ I know. ” Moon sighs, but it's soft. “ We’ll accept the request to our systems. And I’ll make sure if it has any intentions to mess around with our code it won’t get far. ”
“You won’t go too far either.” Sun insisted. Moon doesn’t respond for a beat too long and Sun shakes his head exasperated. “If nothing else it would be more poking at our code if something happened that raised suspicion?"
“ ...Fine. ” Moon said a little put out and it’s that that finally makes Sun lose the tension in their frame and let out a little giggle. It’s enough that Moon chuckles too and that more than anything makes Sun more settled.
The beat after Moon presses Accept, nothing happens. No warning windows open up nor can Sun and Moon feel anything trying to breach their firewalls. Another beat passes before another popup appears in Sun and Moon’s vision. It’s a… livestream? Of the vents. 8 minimized windows each with their own number in the righthand corner. Sun startles when each video plays the Music Men’s melody for “hello”.
“ Is this the Music Men's camera feeds?” Moon says confused.
“ You accepted! ” DJ Music Man said, the words appearing as a popup beneath the camera feeds. “ We’re properly family now. ”
“DJ Music Man?”
“ What are you talking about? ”
“ You protected my Music Men. My Music Men liked you. I like you. You accepted to join us. That makes you family! ”
“Oh…” Sun said a little overwhelmed.
“ That’s not how families work.” Moon said, suspicious. “ There is a little more to it than that. ”
“ Not to us ” DJ Music Man hummed. “ I’ve decided. My Music Men agree. You also agreed. Yes? ” DJ Music Man faulted on the last word, a little uncertain now.
“Yes! We agreed! NO TACKBACKSIES.” Sun rushed to say, the last part aimed at Moon.
“ Sun- ”
“Moon”
“ Sun! ”
“Moon!”
“ DJ Music Man? ”
Sun and Moon both paused, staring at DJ Music Man’s words. They were so used to their conversations in their code being private that it was startling to have someone join in their arguments.
“ Why are you doing this? ” Moon said frustrated. “ It can’t be that simple. ”
“ Why did you not report my Music Men? ” DJ Music Man asked back.
Both Sun and Moon were struck silent. “It’s… It’s our job to protect the Mega Pizzaplex as a security bot. Your Music Men count as the animatronics under our protection.” Sun eventually says because it’s the easiest reason to give, even if it's a half truth.
“ Well as a security bot like you, you’re under my protection as well, ” DJ Music Man happily replies. “ That’s just another way to say family anyway. ”
“Okay” Sun agreed, voicebox wobbling on the word. “Family then. Moon?”
“. ..Fine. ” Moon said reluctantly, “ I’m only indulging this because you haven’t given us a reason to be wary…yet. Don’t give us a reason, alright? ” Moon warns but Sun can tell it’s the same tone they use on the little sunshines rather than anything that was truly meant to be threatening.
“ You are mine. I protect what is mine. ” DJ Music Man promised, simply. “ I must recharge now so stay safe patrolling, My Sun and My Moon. ” DJ Music Man said before retreating from their systems, leaving only those words and the Music Men’s camera feeds.
Sun stares at the vent footage and DJ Music Man’s words for a solid minute. “What just happened?”
“ Sunrise, I have no idea. ”