Chapter Text
It had been in one of the many books you had "forgotten" years ago, back when you were just another face in the mass of strangers who wandered through their routines.
Hidden amongst the pages was a simple quote by Lao Tzu, the Chinese Philosopher: "Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage."
For a long time, the words Sun and Moon had read had been nothing more than empty sentiment.
A collection of symbols strung together with no anchor, no meaning to give them any actual weight.
But now, those words haunted them.
When the understanding had finally come, it did so violently.
A rapid jolt of clarity surged through their circuits, sparking something as terrifying as it was profound.
-this was genuine affection. Something real.
Not the surface-level affection hardcoded into them for their little charges, they were designed to comfort and coddle.
Not the shallow warmth expressed in programmed niceties for S.T.A.F.
This had been different.
The feeling had moved through them like static, a hum that echoed in their joints, coiling around their processors with a strange, aching buzz. They had no framework for it, no pre-written command to explain what they felt, only the overwhelming sense that it was both precious and precarious...
And perhaps that was why they both began to watch you more closely together. Their shared gaze lingered in moments they thought you wouldn't notice.
Had they been too good at hiding from you?
Quiet. Quiet moments, when you moved about your day unaware of their attention, they unraveled.
Every gesture, soft laugh, and ever-fleeting smile consumed them.
Did they mishandle the fragile thing you had built together?
In simple, imperceptible ways, you had become irreplaceable to them.
Before you, there had been nothing but interchangeable faces.
People with names they would forget the moments after they had left the Daycare, interactions reduced to patterns and routine.
Then you arrived, and with a quiet, disarming warmth, you shattered the mathematical predictability of their existence.
Messy.
Rulebreaker.
It was true that in the beginning, they had been suspicious of you.
Kindness was something they had witnessed countless times: parents soothing children, human co-workers sharing uplifting words-
but yours was different.
It radiated, seeping into the spaces between words and actions, lingering long after you were gone. And you never even noticed that you were moving the very world with your actions.
And when you smiled... it was a full-bodied expression, light pooling in your eyes as if the universe had conspired to pause just for you.
How unfair.
It was the warmth, that kindness, that allowed them to build something- to be strong, to be brave.
They had never imagined that what they were building in themselves would ever cause you harm.
Jealousy.
The word was foreign to them. They had no concept of it, no context for understanding the slow, insidious way it could creep into existence.
When it did happen- when the cracks appeared- it was like a persistent drip upon stone. Bit by bit, it wore away at what had been solid.
And the damage was immeasurable.
They had played their part in the mess that followed. What began as a welcomed sting- the thrill of being noticed, even if only as pieces in a game, soon decayed into something darker.
Pain.
A kind of pain they couldn't swallow back down, no matter how hard they tried.
Nowhere.
They had nowhere they could go, nowhere they could look and not see the reflections of the past in clarity.
They thought of you- and your kindness running further and further from them without even a chance to speak, to explain.
They imagined you forgetting them, as your kind often did, moving on with your life as they stepped back into the cold pattern of before.
Expect you had cursed them.
Cursed them with the knowledge of what warmth was,
of what kindness can do...
They shut off whatever kindness they could- and nothing could surprise them anymore.
...but they, again, underestimated you with your surprises.
You couldn't shake how strange it was that you were standing between not just one but both of your prior flames...
How cruel this would happen in such a horrible way.
All that time you had spent running seemingly led you straight back into their waiting arms—or maybe just their waiting retribution.
The universe was making the confrontation happen; your preparation be damned.
From this distance, you could faintly feel the gentle vibration of inner machinery emanating from their steel bodies; a low hum that sang down through your skin and deep within your bones, forcing an instinctive shiver to surge through you.
You were terrified.
Sun was keeping you firmly pinned against his chest, his grip unmoving as if daring you to even think of escaping.
Behind you, Moon traced his claws at the edge of where your sleeve met the hem of your shoulder, the sharp tips barely grazing your skin.
Both of them were waiting,
but for what?
There was a time when you could have deciphered just a shift in their posture, the slightest tilt of their faceplate, and had known exactly what it meant.
But now, those familiar gestures that once spoke volumes had become foreign to you- it was beginning to annoy you.
Who they were now may as well be strangers.
Still, just looking at them made you question everything again.
The plaguing question of IF.
Would the regret have morphed into something less poisonous if you had just turned around and stayed?
The question always lingered, lurking in the shadows of your mind for years. A persistent whisper, always there, just out of sight but never out of reach.
In the half-decade since, you had spent most of your time very carefully constructing a brick-by-brick wall to separate who you were from who you are now.
That past self, with all their doubts and vulnerabilities, they were meant to be left behind, sealed away behind the barrier you built so meticulously.
But now, held between Moon and Sun, you feared that wall was not as strong as you had hoped.
Perhaps that was what they were doing: testing you with their torment.
Your entire body screamed in protest as you forced yourself to stay quietly rooted in place, daring not to slip even a centimeter back toward Moon or further onto Sun.
They could probably see how taunt your muscles were with the effort, see the strain you had against the urge to flee.
It brought them some joy, no doubt.
Behind you, a bright glare of red cast itself across your shoulder, its intensity clashing with the dulled yellow chest of Sun in front. Sparing a nervous glance upward, you caught Sun's gaze as he leered down. His blinding white eyes narrowed into two pleased crescents at your attention.
His delight was immediate. His body loomed larger, almost like a shadow stretching over you at your alarm, making you feel smaller and more powerless.
Their combined presence was too much, pressing into you from all sides. The physical closeness, something you once prayed for, now only amplified your anxiety.
You felt as if you were suffocating.
Your heart was beating wildly in your chest like a bird fluttering its wings against a too small cage. The tension was mounting, and each second you continued to pass in silence began to thread itself around your neck like a vice.
"—banned?" you whispered, your tongue feeling like cotton in your mouth.
Sun giggled, the sound startling after so much silence, a high-pitched echo that shook through the nervous air.
Meanwhile, Moon's reaction was more immediate and physical—his claws pressed into the tender skin of your forearms, just enough to sting, a clear warning without words.
You, despite yourself, gasped.
"We can't imagine why you'd be surprised," Moon hummed, his gravelly voice vibrating through your body as he leaned forward into your back, pressing you painfully against Sun in tow.
"So silly~" Sun chimed in, his searing white stare burning into you from above. "~you look so confused; it's cute!" His tone was playful, but the edge in his voice made it clear to him that this was anything but a game.
Overwhelmed by the strange flutter of butterflies beneath your skin and the scrutiny bearing down on you, you let your head fall, your gaze dropping to the floor in a desperate attempt to escape their piercing attention.
Sun, displeased, leaned downward, his movement slow and calloused, carefully pulling one of his arms away from your body. He raised his hand and hooked a finger beneath your chin with indifferent ease.
"We did NOT tell you that you could look away," he lifted your head roughly, a sharp scolding noise escaping him. "Lost what little manners you had?" he ridiculed, his voice dripping with annoyance but still mockingly sweet, each word laced with condescension.
A wave of heat flushed across your face before you could help yourself. The strange intimacy of the situation left you both confused and irritated by how deeply it still affected you.
"—s'not like you're making this easy," you finally spoke, your voice trembling with frustration and defiance. You raised both hands, pressing against Moon's claws while catching Sun's wrist, which still rested beneath your chin. "What do you expect from me?" The fire in your tone surprised even you.
It was a challenge to keep your voice low enough not to rouse Mazie, but you felt the intent come across as you leveled your gaze at Sun.
You watched as Sun's eye twitched, white gaze dimming then brightening, and a low noise resembling a growl buzzing from his voice box, which took you off guard.
Before fully registering what was happening, you felt yourself being turned. Sun maneuvered you in his arms, spinning you theatrically as Moon momentarily released his hold.
The sudden movement disoriented you, and just as quickly as it began, you were stopped.
For a moment, you were blinded by a harsh red glow. But as the seconds stretched thin, the light dulled, and your focus returned—only to find Moon towering over you.
"We expect very little of you, starlight," Moon spoke, his voice calm and even yet laced with a coldness that sent a chill down through you. The ferocity with which he spat out the nickname he once used so gently cutting through you like a knife.
There was so much anger between them; you could see it in the intensity of Moon's gaze, a fierce flash that made your skin crawl. Behind you, Sun's grip tightened in tandem, his thin fingers digging painfully into the softness of your flesh, a silent demand for you to stay still and face the full force of their combined wrath.
Those old feelings were infuriatingly intense. No matter how hard you tried to shake them off, they surged back like waves crashing against the shore – relentless and inescapable.
A guilty part of you even felt a twisted joy,
elated that they still remembered you, still had any reaction to you –
it made you feel wrong.
"...I didn't know what to do," you admit in a whisper, holding yourself still as you stared at Moon, leaning back slightly to feel even the faintest warmth of Sun. "I-" you pause, "Both of you were so confused, and I didn't trust myself not to make it worse..."
Moon and Sun dismissively sigh in unison.
You search their faces, hoping for some hint of understanding or forgiveness, but their expressions remain unreadable, a mix of shade and glow. The silence stretches out, heavy and thick, wrapping around your chest and making breathing hard.
"I was... afraid," you continue, voice trembling. "Afraid of hurting you, terrified of losing you both. So I chose to take myself out of the situation altogether."
Moon's eyes narrow slightly, while Sun's gaze softens just a fraction.
You feel a flicker of hope, but it was fragile, like a candle in the wind.
"-and so, in an effort to not hurt anyone—you hurt everyone," Moon rasped, his voice as cold and cutting as ice. The prior flicker of hope snuffed out nearly immediately, replaced by a chilling emptiness. "How very kind of you," he continued, the word 'kind' lingering between you, dripping with irony and hollow disdain.
"Always looking out for us!" Sun chimed in, his voice twisting the mockery into something almost mischievous yet no less biting. "We're touched!" he added, his tone contrasting with Moon's yet equally sarcastic.
The two of them were a cruel duet of derision.
You take a deep breath, holding the air in your lungs until it burns, a physical anchor against the storm of emotions threatening to overwhelm you. You exhale slowly, trying to reign in the unsavory words teetering on the edge of your tongue.
"I'm sorry..." you manage, your voice sincere but laced with growing anger as their teasing and torment continue to push you.
"We don't forgive you," they both say in unison, their voices blending into a perfect balance of high and low rejection.
As the words left them, they retreated physically from you, creating a chasm of space that felt tangibly painful.
You quickly stumble forward but manage to catch yourself, a frown twisting your expression as you look up just in time to see Moon step to Sun's side.
Their movements begin to synchronize, and a subtle sway is evident in both of their lanky forms. The slightly slouched Moon contrasts with Sun, who maintains an intimidatingly upright posture.
In your head, you find it fascinating that they still managed to be so in tune with one another despite now inhabiting separate bodies.
You wonder, a bit guiltily, about the challenges they must have faced when it first happened, how hard it must have been to force two separate beings from what had been unified under one...
The thought lingers, a reminder of the differences between you all that you can never fully understand...
"Little friend Mazie can be picked up by her designated guardian, as long as that is not you," Sun begins, his voice cutting through your thoughts before they can develop further. The statement hangs in the air, laden with authority and finality. "It's an official rule of the Daycare; we're both sure you understand!" he adds, a mocking lilt to his tone that is impossible to ignore.
You pale a bit at the implications, quickly speaking up, "But her parent can't make that work with their schedule," you begin to anxiously gesture with your hands, "Come on, isn't there some way I can—"
"No," Moon cuts you off quickly, the soft red of his eyes now glowing intently as if narrowed at you. "Mazie is always welcome here; let us make that clear," he continues, holding your stare. "However," his voice drops into something more automatic, forcing you to strain to hear him, "if you are the one attempting to pick her up in the future, then we have to ask you to relay the following message to her parent:" He stills unnaturally, reminding you that they were still animatronics. "We here at the Superstar Daycare welcome all our special stars. However, security remains our top priority when dealing with their care. We require that only an approved adult can be present to pick up their child."
As Moon finishes, Sun seamlessly resumes as if he had been the one speaking. "-Due to your circumstances, if such arrangements are not met, we must sadly ask you to find other childcare options that suit your particular situation."
It feels like a cold transaction, like being read the fine print of a contract or the ending script of a literary paper. The anger they showed earlier is now gone, replaced by a cold indifference that rips straight through your heart.
You balk as you struggle to understand—if you couldn't pick up Mazie, your partner would probably have to find somewhere else for her during their working day.
Your guilt mounts as you recall how hard it was for them to find cost-saving options; given FazCo's reputation, the Superstar Daycare could have already been one of their last choices.
"So you're kicking Mazie out because of me?" you snap, your face flushed with a mix of anger and disbelief.
Sun is the one to move first from the duo, gasping dramatically and shaking his head. "Oh no!" he responds, his voice box almost squeaking from the audacity of your suggestion. "We are saying that due to your permanent ban from the Daycare, Mazie needs to be picked up by someone who is not YOU." Sun points a long pastel finger in your direction, emphasizing his point.
Moon remained unnervingly still, his glowing eyes fixed on his counterpart, then you. Without warning, he stepped forward, body trembling, seemingly enraged,
cutting you off before you could even begin to argue...
Yet, whatever Moon intended to say died as the Daycare doors burst open with a crash.
"And what th'HELL do you two want with me?!" a familiar voice roared, the sharp tone echoing through the room.
Heavy footfalls thundered toward you, followed by an abrupt, uncomfortable pause. "—ya gotta be shi—"
You turned just in time to see Montgomery Gator stop mid-sentence, his fierce expression faltering as he took in the scene.
Your heart dropped.
His arrival caught Mazie's attention, drawing her away from the nearby movie. Her grin stretched wide as she abandoned the seat Sun had set for her, sprinting toward the lot of you with unrestrained excitement.
"Right on time, Gator." Moon's tone carried an edge of irritation as he turned his narrowed gaze onto the Glamrock, clearly reigning in whatever impulse had gripped him moments earlier. "If you could, please escort these two out. Our business is done, and the Daycare is closed."
Monty's tail flicked sharply, the only sign of movement as his orange eyes stayed fixed on Moon. For a moment, the tension in the room thickened before he gave a grunt, his gaze shifting behind his glasses. "Whatever."
Exhausted and clearly dejected, you stepped forward, scooping up Mazie in your arms. She clung to you happily, her wide-eyed wonder fixed on the others as though nothing could be more exciting than being surrounded by her favorite individuals.
The irony of her innocent joy in such a charged moment wasn't lost on you. You forced yourself to ignore it, focusing instead on the warmth of her little arms around your neck as you carried her toward the door.
"Thank you for visiting the Superstar Daycare,"
Sun's cheerful tone rang behind you as you followed Monty across the threshold. But there was something off—strained, as if the words carried a weight Sun couldn't quite hide.
It was so fleeting you couldn't be sure if you'd imagined it. A part of you told yourself not to care, to stop trying to decipher every nuance of their behavior.
And yet, the thought was there.
You walked safely behind Monty, adjusting Mazie in your arms as her energy finally waned. Her small head lolled against your shoulder, hair dusted across her face as her eyelids fluttered with the telltale heaviness of a toddler fighting sleep.
With a tender glance at her stubborn fight with dozing off, you shifted your focus back to Monty. Finally, feeling lighter.
Monty was uncharacteristically quiet, his broad shoulders tense even for an Animatronic, and from what you could tell, he was doing his best to ignore your presence entirely... Did he not notice it was you?
"It's been a long time, Monty," you said, breaking the silence with a soft, genuine tone. Seeing him again, especially after the tension of the Daycare Attendants behind you, brought a surprising comfort. "How have you bee—"
"Don't."
The single word came sharp and low, cutting you off mid-sentence. Monty did not stop walking, but adding a tail flick from agitation left no room for you to misunderstand.
Mazie shifted against you, her tiny body adjusting as if, even in her half-asleep state, she could sense the tension radiating off Monty. The weight of his unspoken emotions hit you like a wall, confusing you.
"Sorry…" you murmured, your voice quiet and uncertain. "I-I just wanted to—"
"I said DON'T, didn't I?" Monty snapped, his growl low and cutting, his pace steady as he refused to look back.
You stared at him, stunned, your mind fumbling for an explanation. "The fu—" You caught yourself, biting down hard on your tongue to stop the curse from slipping out. With a sharp inhale, you tried again, though your voice betrayed the frustration bubbling up.
"Are you mad at me too or something?!" you said louder than you intended, your emotions slipping past your control despite your best efforts.
"Mad?" Monty let out a sharp, barking laugh, the sound echoing faintly in the vast, empty main atrium.
His pace finally slowed as the two of you stepped into the sprawling space, its quietness magnified by the absence of the usual crowds. The emptiness made the room feel impossibly large yet suffocatingly small simultaneously.
"Ya got some nerve…" Monty muttered, his voice rough, the words carrying an edge that shuddered you.
At last, he turned, but only enough to gesture toward the main doors with a jerk of his head. "Go. Door's right there."
It wasn't a request.
You glared at Monty, your anger simmering beneath the surface, mingling with a bitter sorrow you'd barely managed to keep at bay all night. The weight of it threatened to spill over, but you clenched your jaw, forcing yourself to move.
As you approached the gates, a shadowy silhouette outside caught your attention, making you slow your steps.
Shifting Mazie carefully in your arms, you nudged the door with your shoulder.
Standing there was your partner, their worried expression illuminated by the faint glow of the exterior lights. Their cheeks were flushed, pink from the cold, as if they'd been standing outside for far too long, waiting.
Monty stepped forward, trying to guide you through the door with an impatient huff. But you stopped at the threshold, holding firm.
Before settling back on you, your partner's eyes flickered briefly behind you to Monty's looming figure. Despite their timid glance, their gaze softened with relief, seeing you were fine.
"Are you okay?" they asked, their voice tinged with worry. "I got an automated call saying there was a problem with sign-out—I tried to call, but you weren't picking up." Their eyes, full of anxiety, tugged at your guilt. "What happened?"
You shifted Mazie in your arms one last time before carefully handing her over. She had stirred just enough to reach out, clinging to her parent without a fuss.
"Sorry," you murmured, forcing a strained laugh as you rubbed the back of your neck, trying to make the situation feel less overwhelming than it was. "I-I was just… trying to sort this all out so you wouldn't have to get involved."
Your laugh faltered as the weight of everything hit you again. "Seems… I'm…" You struggled for the words, but no phrase softened the truth. Cringing, you finally admitted it.
"I'm banned from the Daycare. We're gonna have to find a new place for Mazie if I've got to pick her up from now on."
Now fully alert, Mazie jerked forward in her parent's arms, her little body twisting to face you. Her wide, startled eyes locked onto yours, filled with confusion and dawning horror.
"But… I wann'go here," she said, her voice soft but trembling, each word laced with a fragile, heartbreaking innocence.
Her gaze flicked desperately between you and her parent, trying to piece together what was happening.
Though she didn't fully understand, she grasped just enough for her small heart to crack.
"I can come back tomorrow?" she asked, her voice wavering with futile hope. The question hung in the air like a plea, her tiny hands clutching tightly at her parent as if holding on would make the answer different.
Your partner shifted effortlessly into parent mode, their expression soft—softer than you'd ever seen—as they looked at Mazie with a warm, reassuring smile.
But you could see the sadness there, too, buried just beneath the surface. They knew what they were about to say would break their daughter's heart, and they were already preparing to cushion the blow as best they could.
"Oh, baby," they murmured, their voice quiet and comforting as they pulled Mazie close, holding her securely against their chest. "I'm sorry, but… no."
The words were gentle yet final.
Mazie's small body tensed immediately, her face crumpling with the weight of disappointment too big for her tiny heart to carry. She fidgeted, kicking her legs as if trying to expel the unbearable sadness building inside her.
A soft whimper escaped her lips, trembling and weak, and you knew it was only a matter of seconds before it turned into full-blown sobbing.
"Did-Did-" Mazie began to speak between broken cries, "-I do something w-wrong?" Large tears were rolling out of the corners of her eyes, her face red. "I-I," she kept forcing the words. "I'll say sorry!" she pleaded to the both of you.
"We'll find somewhere new!" your partner attempted to redirect Mazie, "Somewhere just as fun!"
"NO!" Mazie shouted, her voice high and trembling with stubborn defiance.
She pushed her little hands against her parent's chest, trying to force space between them before twisting herself toward you. Her wide, tear-filled eyes locked onto yours with a desperate intensity, her tiny body leaning as far as she could in your direction.
"I'm sorry! I'msorry!" she cried, her words tumbling over each other in a frantic plea.
She wasn't looking at her parent anymore; her entire focus was on you. Somewhere in her young, innocent mind, she'd decided that you were the one who could fix this—that you alone held the power to make everything right again.
Watching Mazie plead with you and the silent, weary concern in your partner's eyes snapped something deep within you.
It was too much. You took a step back, only to bump into Monty.
He hesitated briefly, then stepped back, creating more space.
"Hey," you said softly, turning to your partner. "I made this mess. I'll take care of it."
Your voice was calm and steady as you glanced down at Mazie. She was still watching you, her little chest rising and falling in hiccupping breaths, her face red with suppressed tears. You knelt slightly, tapping her nose gently to soothe her.
"You," you said firmly, meeting her watery eyes, "did nothing wrong. Not a single thing. Okay?" You emphasized the words, and your voice was as reassuring as you could make it. "I'm going to talk to Mr. Sun and Mr. Moon and sort this out. No more tears, alright? I promise."
Mazie sniffled but nodded hesitantly, clutching tightly to her parent's shirt.
Straightening, you turned to your partner, your expression resolute. "Get home," you said softly. "I'll call you later and tell you… everything."
They gave you a worried look, the reluctance in their eyes clear. They didn't want to leave you here to handle this alone, but a quick glance at Mazie, who was teetering on the edge of another tantrum, made their decision for them.
With a sigh, they nodded, shifting Mazie slightly in their arms. "Please," they said, their voice soft and full of concern, "don't forget this time."
Their words lingered, heavy, before they turned and walked toward the parking lot, Mazie's head resting against their shoulder.
"—never said you could stay," Monty's deep voice rumbled, breaking the fragile peace that had settled around you once your partner and Mazie were out of earshot. His words carried an edge of annoyance, drifting into a low growl.
"Yeah…" you muttered, a lopsided grin tugging at your lips as you turned around—extremely slowly. "I kinda figured it wouldn't be that easy, but—"
Before you could finish, you caught the movement from the corner of your eye. Monty's clawed hand swiped toward the back of your shirt with startling speed.
With a startled yelp, you dipped down instinctively, just in time to avoid his grasp. Heart in your throat, you hopped backward, further into the atrium, your alarm clear in your voice.
"Whoa! Okay, okay!" you blurted, holding your hands up in mock surrender, though your eyes darted around for an escape. "Is this really necessary?"
"Ya gotta leave. You're not an employee anymore, and all customers are required to scram." Monty snapped.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" you yelled, your voice sharp as you instinctively took several wide steps to the side.
Your heart slowed as you watched Monty's every move, your mind grasping for anything. You were trying to remember how he operated. Was the way he moved directed by precision or brute strength?
If Monty managed to back you toward the doors, you had no doubt he wouldn't hesitate to toss you out like dead weight and lock them behind you, so you needed to think fast.
"With me?!" Monty asked, his voice questioning and biting as he straightened his frame. His limbs trembled with barely contained rage, his glowing orange eyes locked on you with a fury that made your breath hitch.
He bared his teeth, the glint of metal catching faintly in the atrium's dim light as he stepped forward. The heavy thud of his weight striking the floor sent vibrations through the tiles beneath your feet, a visceral reminder of his raw power.
"—comin' back here, goin' straight to them flatheads…" he hissed.
He tilted his head, his expression twisting halfway between a sneer and a snarl. "Ya really got a stupid pattern, don't ya?"
You tensed, every muscle coiled with the instinct to move, though you stayed rooted in place. You knew exactly how much power Monty had. Up to this point, it had never been directed at you, but you'd seen enough to know why he needed two handlers whenever something went south.
His anger was a force of nature, barely restrained, and the sharp glint in his orange eyes told you he wasn't in the mood for restraint now.
"And here I thought we were friends," you said, your voice tinged with forced calm, though the words carried a faint edge of bitterness. Your attempt to defuse the situation felt thin, barely masking the unease tightening in your chest.
Monty laughed immediately, but the sound was raw, almost painful, and devoid of humor. "FRIENDS?!" he roared, his voice reverberating through the atrium like a crack of thunder.
At first, he moved toward you slowly, each step deliberate, as if giving you a chance to comprehend just how much trouble you were in. But then, with startling speed, his pace picked up, a terrifying burst of power propelling him forward.
The sight of his charge sent a jolt of fear through you—pure, instinctual terror.
You barely managed to throw yourself out of his path, dropping hard onto your knees with a painful thud. A sharp hiss escaped your lips as the impact jarred your body, your palms scraping against the cold tile as you scrambled to steady yourself.
But you weren't safe yet.
The powerful flick of Monty's tail caught your legs, sweeping them out from under you with effortless force. The world tilted violently as you were sent careening into the opposite wall, your body colliding with the surface.
The impact rattled you, and you crumbled to the floor, clutching your abdomen as a deep, pained groan escaped your lips.
For a moment, the sound of your own ragged breathing drowned out everything else.
Then, you heard the faint, mechanical stutter of Monty's movements, his frame trembling slightly as if even he couldn't believe what had just happened.
You lifted your head, your vision blurry but clearing just enough to catch the look on his face.
Monty was reaching out toward you, his clawed hand hesitant, his expression torn. It was the worried look he always tried to hide—the one that slipped through the cracks in his tough exterior when things went too far.
And right now, it was written all over him.
The scene struck you as incredibly funny, in the absurd way that only someone on the edge of sheer exhaustion could find humor in. You laughed into the palms of your hands, the sound unsteady and laced with pained tears as you stared up and across to Monty.
"Ow," you managed to choke out between fits of laughter, the ridiculousness of it all bubbling up uncontrollably.
Monty's gaze faltered, his guilt-ridden expression softening as your reaction seemed to break the tension. He leaned back slightly, looking away as though trying to regain his composure.
"Leave," he ordered again, but the edge in his voice was gone this time. The words came out quieter, almost pleading, the weight of his earlier anger replaced by something much more complex to place.
"Nah…" you muttered, using the wall to brace yourself as you slowly pushed back to your feet. Every muscle in your body protested, but while you were sore, nothing felt broken.
"I gotta go back and try to talk some sense into the 'flatheads,'" you added with a weak grin, borrowing Monty's nickname to lighten the heavy tension in the air.
But Monty didn't respond. He didn't move or say anything; he stood there, his hulking frame still, his eyes fixed on something distant.
The silence stretched uncomfortably, and you couldn't help but fidget, shifting your feet as you rubbed at the lingering ache in your ribs.
"Monty?" you prompted, your voice uncertain, trying to gauge his thinking—or if he was even listening. The quiet felt heavier now...
"Why are ya like this?" Monty's voice broke the silence, fragile and small.
"You. Left. Us," he said slowly. You heard the faint scrape of his claws against the tile as he shifted, and when you looked back, he had fully turned away from you again.
"I knew ya'd leave eventually, sure," he continued, his tone straining, his voicebox clicking faintly like it was fighting to hold back something more. "Those damn clowns had it comin'… but…"
He faltered, a glitched hiccup breaking out before he could suppress it. The sound stung, raw and unnatural, like a wound reopening. "…ya left m—all of us," he finished, the admission low and jagged.
The realization hit you like boulders, crashing down with dense, agonizing clarity. You hadn't considered it before—not really. How did the rest of the animatronics feel when you left? You'd simply walked out, cutting ties without a word, leaving behind more than just the Daycare Attendants.
And Monty...
Your Monty...
What had felt like the right choice at the time had left a ripple effect you'd ignored until now.
"Monty…" you said softly, pushing away from the wall. You reached out, walking slowly, your hand hovering toward his shoulder, but before you could make contact, he abruptly stepped forward, out of reach.
"Nah. I get it," Monty grumbled, his voice hurt and resentful. His tail swept behind him in deliberate motions, keeping you away. "When ya say friends… ya mean just acquaintances, don'tcha? Or just a thing in passing—somethin', not someone. That's what ya mean, ain't it?"
His words twisted in your gut, guilt souring your stomach as your hand dropped uselessly to your side.
"I…" you started, but the words stuck in your throat. An apology didn't feel like enough- it didn't feel right. Everything about this had felt wrong from the moment you arrived, and now, faced with the consequences of your actions, you knew a simple "sorry" wouldn't fix it.
You took a steadying breath. "You're really gonna hate this," you admitted, your voice firm despite the unease gnawing at you. "But trust me—I'm going to try and make this right."
Monty tilted his head, his glowing orange eyes narrowing in suspicion as he glanced back at you. "What do you mean—HEY!"
The instant you bolted into a full sprint down the hallway, his voice became furious.
"Sorry, Monty! Gotta try—and you know how stupid I am!" you called over your shoulder, breathless but grinning despite yourself.
Monty's heavy stomping followed almost immediately, his metallic footsteps growing louder and more frantic as he gave chase.
"Get back here!" he bellowed, his tail thrashing violently behind him as he thundered down the hallway like a true gator.
Your attention snapped forward, the hallway ahead stretching long and deceptively quiet. It was close enough to closing that Moon shouldn't yet be on his security patrols—but you couldn't count on that.
Sun and Moon were separate now, and who knew how much their routines had changed since you'd left?
Your best bet was to get to the Daycare while only one of them was active. If both of them were there... well, you wouldn't think that through just yet.
You darted in a zigzag pattern, the sudden shifts in direction enough to throw Monty off just slightly, buying you precious seconds as you sprinted straight for the Daycare.
Monty must have known where you were headed. Maybe he even wanted to stop you—not to punish, but to spare you from facing the Daycare Attendants alone. Yet, as you neared the Daycare wing, his heavy footsteps suddenly ceased.
Your breath came in labored gasps as you slowed to a stop, and you tried in vain to silence them as you glanced over your shoulder. The hallway stretched wide and empty behind you, the faint flicker of orange light from Monty’s glowing eyes nowhere to be seen.
Had he given up? Maybe he realized you were going to do this no matter what. Or maybe, like everyone else, he’d simply decided you weren’t worth the effort anymore.
“Sorry…” you whispered into the quiet, your voice cracking. You didn’t expect the words to reach anyone, but the weight of your guilt forced them out anyway as if an apology to the void would somehow matter.
You turned back to face the Daycare, your eyes flicking nervously between the imposing main doors and the colorful “Slide into Fun” slide for children.
You didn’t have much time. Moon could be starting his patrol any moment—or worse, already had.
Your chest tightened as a wave of urgency overtook you. Without giving yourself another second to overthink, you bolted toward the stairs, the decision made before you could fully process it.
Throwing yourself into the red slide, you plunged down, the enclosed space amplifying the sound of your rapid heartbeat as you plummeted into the sea of colorful plastic balls below.
Fuck. You hated the ball pit.
In some other universe, this might have been funny—flailing around in a sea of colorful plastic—but here and now, it was anything but. Every movement you made was thwarted by the shifting mass beneath you, the slick spheres conspiring to keep you just under the surface.
You struggled, trying desperately to keep yourself inconspicuous, but the harder you fought, the louder the rustling and clattering of the balls became. You were losing this battle, floundering as you groped blindly for an edge you weren’t even sure was nearby.
Finally, your fingers brushed against something solid, a faint glimmer of hope surging through you. But before relief could fully settle, your heart plummeted.
The solid surface you’d grasped suddenly grasped back.
A steely hold clamped around your wrist, unyielding and impossibly strong. The sensation was cold and mechanical, like a vice, and before you could react, you were jerked upward with startling force.
The world spun as the colorful sea of plastic gave way beneath you, and you were hoisted into the air. Your breath caught in your throat, your pulse hammering as you found yourself face-to-face with the glowing eyes of Sun.
His expression remained fixed, the perpetual grin etched into his faceplate unchanging, but you could sense it... he wasn’t terribly surprised to see you.
“Must we involve the authorities? Really?” Sun’s voice dripped with dry annoyance, his tone far from the over-the-top cheer you’d come to expect.
Without the presence of children to maintain his veneer of joy, the forced pleasantries had been stripped away, leaving only his thinly veiled disdain for you. His bright eyes narrowed slightly, their glow sharper than usual as he held you aloft like a tattered toy.
“…We need to talk,” you said, trying to maintain a serious expression despite the awkward situation.
Sun tilted his head, his eyes regarding you with a mixture of bemusement and pity. He held you at arm’s length, his grip firm but calculated as he carried you effortlessly out of the ball pit.
“No, I don’t think we do,” he replied, his voice curt and clipped.
With that, he released you, dropping you just inches above the padded Daycare floor. You barely managed to catch yourself on your feet, stumbling forward.
Sun watched your clumsy landing, his expression unchanging, though the faintest hum of a chuckle escaped him as he straightened. “You were told everything you needed to know,” he added, his tone suddenly blunt, “Now you're just being a brat..."
“I’m not leaving until we talk about this,” you said firmly, taking a small step forward.
Sun didn’t move. He remained perfectly still, his eyes fixed on you. But you could hear it... a faint shift in the rhythm of his internal fans, spinning faster, working harder as if trying to keep his rising intensity in check.
“How… dare… you…”
The words came out slowly, carefully, his voice dropping into a tone far lower than you’d ever heard from him before. It was unsettling, the usual bright cheer completely absent, replaced by something cold and hateful that sliced through the air like a blade.
The sound froze you in place, your confidence faltering under the weight of his quiet fury.
“Do—do you actually not see what is going on here?” Sun’s voice cracked with disbelief, his whole body gesturing dramatically toward the entirety of the Daycare as if trying to make you see something glaringly obvious. “Moon and I,-” he continued, tapping his metallic fingers against his chest with a sharp, resounding click, his tone dripping with barely contained disdain,
“-we hate you.”
The emphasis on the word was palpable, each syllable like a twist of the knife. His eyes bored into you, the raw intensity of his words leaving no room for misunderstanding this time around, not even if you wanted to.
It still hurt.
Even after all these years, after all the changes you thought you’d made in yourself, hearing it said aloud devastated you in a way you hadn’t expected.
Some part of you knew it was possible—maybe even understandable—but the sharp pain that lodged itself in your throat and the hot tears pooling in the corners of your eyes betrayed the truth: you couldn’t fully believe it. Not until now.
You swallowed hard, the motion agonizing as you tried to push past the heartbreak. Your head dipped in a trembling nod, a silent acknowledgment of what had been said.
“I-” you tried to speak, but your voice broke into fragments, "I-" each word splintered by the silent sobs that made your chest hitch.
You nodded again, your body tense as if bracing for the blow all over again. The words had landed, the meaning sinking deep.
Message received. Loud and clear.
…But this wasn’t about you.
was it?
“O-Okay…” you stammered, biting down hard on your bottom lip as you tried to steady yourself. Your voice wavered, but your nod this time was firmer, more deliberate.
“You,” you exhaled sharply, your breath shaky as you forced the words out. “Both of you… hate me. Okay.”
The words felt heavy, almost surreal, as they left your mouth, but you said them anyway, acknowledging the reality you couldn’t avoid. It wasn’t about easing the sting or finding comfort—it was about facing what needed to be faced.
Sun stood there, silently watching you, his eyes fixed and unyielding. His posture remained rigid, his expression unchanged, offering you nothing, no comfort, no reassurance, not even a flicker of softness.
You struggled to suppress the grief welling up inside you, swallowing back the sobs that threatened to spill over. But his unwavering gaze made it harder, the sheer absence of anything resembling warmth cutting deeper than his words had.
It felt as if he was waiting for something—perhaps for you to say something equally horrible back, to lash out and meet his anger with your own.
But you didn’t.
“…”
Desperation, raw and undeniable, pushed your feet forward. You moved closer to Sun, closing the distance despite the angry tension radiating from him. His white eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise breaking through his cold exterior as you reached out.
Your hand lightly touched his, and to your astonishment, he didn’t pull away.
Whether it was shock or hesitation, you couldn’t say, but his stillness gave you the courage to speak.
“Sunny…” you whispered, your voice faint, exhausted, and shattered. Your gaze searched his eyes, hoping to find something, anything, beyond the contempt.
“…Can I fix this?”
“Naughty, naughty." sang a deep voice, breaking the silence, "Coming somewhere you’re clearly not wanted.”
Sun jerked his hand back from yours as though he’d been burned, his movement sudden as he took a large step backward, retreating just in time for Moon to drop down from above, landing directly in front of him, facing you.
The shift in the air was immediate, the dark, wiry figure positioning himself like a shield between you and his Sunny counterpart.
“I see the Gator is even more inefficient at his role than I even gave him credit for,” Moon said, his voice smooth and cutting, laced with mocking disapproval. He clicked his voice box softly, wagging a long, clawed finger at you like a parent scolding a misbehaving child.
“There’ll be punishments for that,” he continued, his glowing red eyes narrowing, his words dripping with ominous promise. “But first… yours.”
You flinched at the suddenness of Moon’s appearance, your body reacting instinctively as you stepped backward. But as your heart raced, you forced yourself to hold his gaze, your expression just as heartbroken as before, though the shock was fading into weary resolve.
“Sure.” You raised a hand in a gesture of surrender, your voice weary, defeated. “Just… please. Hear me out.”
Moon growled, his body coiled with tension. “Hear you out?” he repeated, his tone dripping with disbelief and venom. “You come back into our home—after all this time—and make demands of us?”
His red eyes burned into yours, the intensity of his anger palpable.
You flinched again, but this time you stayed rooted in place, forcing yourself not to back away. “Please…” you said, your voice trembling as you tried to suppress the growing anxiety bubbling up inside you. Your hands balled into fists at your sides, fingers digging into your palms as you fought against the frustration that was beginning to creep in.
“You can do whatever you want to me after I explain,” you said firmly, though you were scared.
Moon tilted his faceplate, his thin neck clicking softly as he straightened, his movements slow and deliberate. A deep, amused chuckle slipped from him, tight and unsettling as it echoed in the quiet.
“Whatever, hm?” he repeated, the mockery in his voice unmistakable. His glowing eyes narrowed, and his jagged smile seemed to twist wider, more predatory.
“Best not to offer yourself up to those looking to break you, starlight,” he said smoothly, the nickname rolling off his tongue like a taunt, sending a chill down your spine.
You exhaled slowly, pressing your eyes closed as you counted silently to three, trying to steady yourself.
“I know you both…” The words caught in your throat, choking you, but you forced them out. “I know how you feel about me.” you can't bring yourself to repeat the word hate...
Both animatronics made a low, confirming hum in unison, the sound reverberating like a shared judgment.
“But…” You swallowed hard, grounding yourself before continuing. “Mazie. She loves this place, and the financial situation just isn’t something we can work around.”
You opened your eyes, leveling your gaze first at Moon, his unblinking red eyes burning into you, before shifting to glance at Sun, who hovered silently just behind him.
“If either of you can think of any way—anything—I can do to make it so she can come here, and I can still pick her up…” Your voice cracked slightly, but you pushed on your resolve hardening.
“I’ll do anything.”
The words hung heavy in the air, your plea raw and desperate, echoing in the stillness as the two animatronics exchanged a brief, unreadable glance.
In unison, they began to laugh, a shared, harmonic sound that echoed through the Daycare. There was no joy in it for you... only malice, a cruel delight that clearly entertained them.
You sank into yourself, shrinking back as an icy terror began creeping over you.
“Oh, starlight—”
“You understand that a promise like that—”
“Isn’t something you should throw around so freely.”
Their voices wove together seamlessly, each line shared and broken between them. The way they spoke, so coordinated, so alien, made every nerve in your body scream to retreat. You wanted to crawl inside yourself, to disappear, to evaporate under the suffocating queue of instinctual fright.
“I’m being serious,” you whispered, your voice trembling as you crossed your arms over your chest in a subconscious effort to shield yourself.
They synchronized their movements, taking a single, deliberate step forward side by side, their eyes locked onto you.
“Get down—”
“On your knees, please.”
The demand was chilling, their voices perfectly aligned, a parody of politeness dripping with sinister intent. Your breath hitched, your body frozen, but you had promised, and you'd obey.
You sank down onto your knees, your arms falling from your chest to steady yourself against the uneven, padded Daycare floor. Your face felt unbearably hot, a flush of emotion rising as you fought to stomach the strange, fluttering anxiety crawling beneath your skin.
Taking another deep breath, you forced yourself to steel your gaze, lifting your head to meet their glowing eyes as they stopped just above you.
From this angle, they were impossibly large—towering, imposing, and frightful.
Their faceplates tilted down in perfect unison, their burning gazes locking onto you with unnerving precision. Slowly, deliberately, each reached out, their hands brushing the sides of your face.
The cold, metallic touch sent a shock through your system, but there was something reverent in the way they cradled your face as if they were holding something precious.
Your heart thundered in your chest, each beat growing louder in your ears, yet your breathing slowed, almost involuntarily, under their unyielding focus.
The room seemed to shrink, their presence overwhelming, commanding every fragment of your attention.
“After each day, you pick up our little friend,”
“You’ll return to us. Here.”
“If you miss even one day—”
“The deal is off, and the authorities will be called—”
“To press the proper charges after your little stunt tonight.”
The seamless way they spoke, each finishing the other’s sentence, made the words sink in like weights, heavy and suffocating.
“Understand?”
Your expression twisted in confusion, your body shuddering beneath their touches. Despite the menace in their words, their hands remained unnervingly gentle, cradling your face with care that felt like a mockery of their intentions.
“I—I don’t understand…” you stammered, your voice shaky as you tried to grasp the meaning behind their demands. “Why woul—”
“Shh…”
The soft, synchronized hush silenced you instantly, a chilling sound that made your breath hitch.
“This is your punishment,” one of them said, their voice low and deliberate.
“You wanted this,” the other added, their tone laced with dark amusement.
“And we will ruin you,” they said together, their voices harmonizing into something almost melodic, their glowing eyes narrowing as their fingers pressed just a fraction tighter against your skin. “And you’ll accept it willingly."
“-Just as you think everything is perfect,” they continued, their voices dropping lower, chilling you to the core, “we'll break you like you did us.”
You didn’t quite understand why they were telling you all this.. why they felt the need to lay out their intentions so clearly, as if spelling out the steps to your own undoing would frighten you?
But maybe that was the flaw between them and you.
They didn’t understand that you had a choice.
If you could guard yourself well enough and steel your resolve against whatever they had planned, then you could find a way to endure this, to outlast whatever cruel game they intended to play.
“…O-Okay,” you said softly, the words trembling on your lips as you forced yourself to nod.
Your agreement felt hollow, a compromise to buy time, yet it hung in the air like a submission they had been waiting for.
Their eyes gleamed with something unreadable, their hands still cradling your face, their touch uncomfortably gentle against the tension thrumming through your body.
“Good toy.”
Just as quickly as their unsettling tenderness had enveloped you, it was gone. They withdrew in unison, but not before Moon swooped down, gripping you firmly under your arms.
“Now. Leave,” he growled, his voice annoyed and forceful as he carried you effortlessly toward the Daycare doors.
Your head swam, disoriented by the rapid shift, and you offered no resistance as he marched you forward. When he stopped, you were surprised by the unexpected gentleness as he set you back on your feet, steadying you before stepping away.
“See you soon…” he sang, the words lilting with sinister delight as he chuckled softly. Without waiting for a response, he shut the door in your face, the sound echoing in the quiet hallway.
You stood there, frozen, unsure of what to do, your thoughts spiraling. But the heavy sound of angry stomping behind you jolted you out of your daze.
“…You really can’t stop fucking yourself over, can you?”
Monty’s voice, deeper and more enraged than you’d ever heard, made you turn sharply.
Before you could respond, his hand shot out, grabbing the back of your shirt with a rough yank. You stumbled as he dragged you without ceremony toward the entrance, his frustration practically radiating off him in waves.
This…
This was about to get very complicated. Wasn’t it?