You firmly grasp your Sun boy's hand and guide him through the labyrinth of corridors, arriving at the foreboding entrance of Parts and Service.
As you release his hand, your eyes meet his, attempting to show reassurance in the mechanical gloom that envelops the room. Sun enters, his steps hesitant.
Inside, the fluorescent lights flicker intermittently, casting eerie shadows upon the worn linoleum floor.
You see a man with short ruffled brown hair and blue eyes, seemed to be around the age of 16-20. He introduces himself as Liam, the repairman, as he emerges from the shadows, his work-worn hands and deep-set eyes betraying years of experience with these intricate machines. Sun looks up at Liam, his curiosity mingling with hesitation.
"Hey there, little fella," Liam offers a kind smile, his voice a gentle contrast to the mechanical symphony surrounding them. "Let's see if we can fix you, shall we?"
As you leave Sun to get fixed you turn away from Parts and Service and re-enter the daycare, the outbreak of vibrant colours greet your senses once more.
Entering the now-empty daycare, you're met with a stillness that contrasts sharply with the lively atmosphere of the day. The lights cast a warm, gentle glow through the daycare, illuminating the remnants of a day filled with laughter and play.
Toys and art supplies lie neatly organized, awaiting the return of the children. As you promised Sun, you begin your task of cleaning.
You hear a knock at the daycare doors and walk over, seeing Sun fidgeting with his ribbons on his wrists. Beside him, Liam stood tall, a rolling worktable clutched firmly in his hands. His eyes, a deep shade of warmth, met yours as he spoke, his voice carrying a hint of gratitude.
"Sun was getting fidgety and wanted you to be in eyesight of him," he explained, a touch of concern lacing his words.
Liam stepped forward, Sun trailing behind him like a shadow mimicking its source. "Oh, that's alright," you reassured them, your voice gentle.
"Can you do it outside? At the entrance of the daycare so you don't get in the way, please?" A sense of cooperation swirled in the atmosphere, as if the universe had orchestrated this moment, ensuring that everyone's needs were met.
Liam's face lit up with a genuine smile, gratitude painting his features with an ethereal glow. "Of course," he chimed in, his voice alive with genuine appreciation.
"Thanks for allowing us to do this, [Y/N]!" His words danced through the air, a melody that was coated with sincerity.
"Uh-huh," you replied, your voice gentle but filled with a sense of purpose. As you turned away to resume your duties, a promise whispered earlier lingered in your mind like a melody waiting to be sung.
You were determined to fulfill your word, to clean up and make way for Liam and Sun's endeavor, for their happiness was intertwined with your own.
Sun watches you from the entrance of the daycare, his eyes filled with concern as Liam begins to examine his broken parts.
Liam's hands move with practiced precision, delicately removing screws and wires as he works to repair Sun's damaged body.
As you continue to clean the daycare, you can't help but steal glances at Sun. His normally vibrant rays hang limp and lifeless, and the sight fills your heart with a mix of sadness and determination. You know that you need to do whatever it takes to help him heal.
The pain in your side intensifies with every movement, but you push through, determined to finish cleaning before returning to Sun's side.
You carefully scrub and sanitize every surface, wanting to create a safe and welcoming environment for the children who will soon fill the room with laughter and joy once again.
As you wipe down the colourful artwork on the walls, memories of the children flood your mind. Their smiles, their laughter, their innocent curiosity.
You long to see them again, to witness their excitement when they spot Sun's familiar form in the room. Hours pass, and finally, the daycare is spotless.
Satisfied with your work, you make your way back to Parts and Service, your side throbbing with every step. As you enter the room, you find Sun sitting on a workbench, Liam standing beside him with a satisfied smile on his face.
"Good as new," Liam declares, his voice filled with pride. "Took some time, but I managed to fix him up. He's a resilient little guy."
You walk over to Sun's side, relief washing over you as you see his rays standing tall and strong once again. His faceplate is whole, and his voice no longer glitches. He looks at you with gratitude, his eyes sparkling with a renewed sense of hope.
"Thank you, Liam," you say, your voice filled with gratitude. "You've done an amazing job."
Liam nods, a kind smile on his face. "Just doing my job. Take care of him now, alright? And take care of yourself too. That wound looks nasty."
You thank Liam once more before Sun walks back to the now pristine daycare. Sun takes a moment to soak in the familiar surroundings, his repaired body radiating a gentle warmth. He looks at you, his eyes filled with a newfound sense of determination.
You smile, your heart swelling with pride. With Sun by your side, you know that together you can overcome any challenge.
The daycare may have been empty for a while, but soon it will be filled with laughter and love once more. You and Sun stand side by side, ready to welcome the children back into their home away from home.
"Hey Sun?" you ask, getting him to look down at you with a hum. "How... Did that happen? You getting broken, I mean." you asked softly, your voice filled with curiosity.
His gaze met yours, uncertainty clouding his eyes as he hesitated, clearly unsure of how to respond. The room fell silent, the only sound the soft rustling of his ribbons as he fidgeted nervously.
Realizing his discomfort, you reached out and gently rubbed his arm, a gesture of comfort and understanding. "You don't have to tell me right now, or even at all," you reassured him, your voice soothing like a lullaby. "It was just a question. You don't have to respond."
Sun's tensed posture relaxed slightly, a small smile gracing his lips. He turned towards you, his eyes filled with gratitude for your understanding. "Thanks, Sunbolt," he whispered, his voice barely audible but brimming with appreciation.
You nodded, a soft smile playing on your lips. In that moment, you realized that some questions were better left unanswered, especially if they caused discomfort or pain. You knew that Sun would share his story when he was ready, and until then, you would be there for him, offering support and love.
Sun walked towards a small table sitting down upon it. "Thank you." Sun whispered quietly.
Your eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "For what?" you inquired.
Sun shook his head, smiling softly unlike his usual happy filled one. "Thank you, [Y/N]. For getting me fixed, and for being so stubborn..." Sun trailed off, his gaze suddenly becoming distant.
Confusion clouded your thoughts. Did something happen while you were busy cleaning the daycare?
"What happened? This is out of nowhere." you questioned softly.
Before Sun could reply, you saw the door open, revealing a figure in uniform. You recognized the staff member as Vanessa, the security guard who helped you when you first came here. "Ah, good morning," she greeted you, her voice quiet and pleasant.
"Ah, good morning," she greeted you, her voice quiet and pleasant.
"Good morning!" you responded enthusiastically, flashing her a bright smile. "How are you doing?"
She smiled back, her eyes filled with gratitude and respect. "I'm doing well, thanks. How about you? Is everything okay with the daycare?" She questioned, taking note of how quiet the daycare was.
"Everything's fine," you replied, looking to where Sun sat on the table and noticing that he hadn't moved. "What are you doing here?" you ask her.
She shrugged sheepishly, glancing over her shoulder towards the doorway. "I'm just checking up on you two, making sure everything is okay." She gave the both of you another quick smile. "Enjoy your night," Vanessa finished, turning back to leave the daycare.
Once she was gone, the silence returned to the room. You turn to Sun and smile warmly at him.
"Hey, Sun bun!" you exclaim, a wide smile spreading across your face. With an air of professionalism, you fold your arms behind your back and lean in closer to him. His eyebrow quirks up in curiosity, awaiting your next words.
"I need to go, it's..." you glance at your Fazwatch, "12:56 AM. I have to work with Moon right now. Can I turn off the lights?" you ask.
"Uhm... where did you get the watch, Sunbolt?" he asks, pulling his arms close to his chest and messing with the ribbons as his rays retract slightly, trying to change the subject. But you can tell he's genuinely intrigued. Making a quick mental note of his ribbon fidgeting, you decide to indulge his curiosity.
"It was in a letter from management on the security desk. I grabbed it while I was cleaning the daycare," you responded casually, before strolling over to the light switch. "Sun, I'm going to turn off the lights, okay?"
His panicked reaction surprises you as he dashes over, desperately blocking your path. With wide eyes, he pleads with you, a touch of fear in his voice. "No, NO! Don't do that! Moon hurt you, and I don't want him to do it again! You're still hurting, I saw it while you were cleaning!"
"Sun-" "No! I won't let you!!" he cuts you off as he shakes his head violently.
You pause, taking in his genuine concern for your well-being. Determined to put his worries at ease, you grab his head gently and bring him down to your eye level. "Sun, I promise I'll be careful. Look," you reach over to the security desk and grab a flashlight. "I'll have this with me at all times, and I'll keep a safe distance. Alright?"
The daycare fell into an eerie silence, as if time itself held its breath. A soft huff escaped him, his uncertainty certain in the air. Slowly, he nodded, his arms dropping to his sides, his fingers fidgeting with the delicate ribbons around his wrists.
With him now out of the way, you approached the switch, your finger poised above it. A reassuring nod was exchanged between the two of you, a silent pact of support. He understood. Taking a deep breath, you turned your attention back to the switch, your finger pressing down on it with a 'click'.
As the lights abruptly went out, the daycare was plunged into a shroud of complete darkness. The distant sounds of Sun's struggling reached your ears, a cry of protest against its impending transformation. Yet, you made a conscious choice not to look, to honour his struggle.
After a few tense moments, the battle of screaming and struggling ceased. Slowly, you turned your gaze towards the spot where Sun had once stood, anticipation coursing through your veins. and there it was, the silhouette of Moon. its contours sharp against the blackness. Its eyes, a haunting shade of glowing red, pierced through the cloak of night.
As he extended his arm towards you, you instinctively evaded, pressing your back against the wall behind the security desk. You made a quick escape, slipping out from the opposite end of the desk where Moon stood, leaving him behind.
"Starfire... I'm-" Moon's voice trembled, laced with regret.
However, you swiftly silenced him, your hand rising to halt his words mid-sentence. With a heavy sigh, you averted your gaze, unable to face him just yet. "Moon... Just... I can't handle this right now."
"Starfire, please just let me expl-" "Not now Moon!" you yell at him, clutching the flashlight closer to your chest as you backed up. "Not now..." you murmur softly, as you fix your gaze on him, the intensity of your stare making him shut up.
You walk over to the daycare doors, opening them up and looking back to him. You see him looking at you, doing the same nervous habit that Sun had; Playing with the ribbons on his wrists.
In that moment, a wave of guilt crashes over you as you lock eyes with him. His expression is etched with remorse, and those deep, ruby-red eyes are brimming with a vulnerable hope, as if he's desperately seeking any glimmer of forgiveness, no matter how small, for the hurt he's caused you. Your heart feels heavy, and you're torn between the weight of his regret and the pain he inflicted.
Having wrestled with your thoughts for what feels like an eternity, you finally make a decision and heave a heavy sigh as you signal him to come over with an elegant and intimate curling of your fingers, you beckon Moon to come over.
You notice him perk up, his eyes alight with curiosity as he approaches you. With his hands protectively clasped to his chest, he gazes down at you intently, as if longing to express something.
"What, Moon?" you sigh, meeting his gaze and hoping to uncover the reason behind his persistent attempts to communicate.
"I just wanted to... apologize. Starfire... I never intended for things to unfold as they did. I was merely seeking some amusement! It's been ages since I've had any human interaction, and I simply craved a taste of merriment... I'm truly sorry." he confesses, his eyes cast downward, resembling a disciplined puppy seeking forgiveness.
You sigh as you open the doors to the daycare, looking back towards him you nod your head towards the outside of the daycare and he perks up once again, running over to you, standing right behind you as you begin to walk out.
Moon trails behind you as you walk out of the daycare, keeping distance but also staying close to you. "So... Care to explain what happened with Sun?" You ask as you continue to walk.
He doesn't respond and instead continues to follow you. You decide not to push it and continue wandering throughout the Pizzaplex with Moon following right behind like a shadow.

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