Chapter Text
Sun mindlessly cleaned a barrel in his hand, casting glances towards the balcony. He already said he was going to do this so he should just… do it. There was nothing to worry about! Worst case scenario… doesn’t matter because it won’t happen. Yeah.
He took a simulated breath and set the barrel down. Sun made his way up to the main balcony room where Lunar was curled up on a beanbag. They were in their small form twiddling with their thumbs. Playing a game in their head maybe. Sun hesitated, knocking on the wall to get his attention.
Lunar blinked, glancing up and shooting Sun a small smile, “Oh! Hey Sun, need something?”
He fiddled with his ribbons, “Ah I was hoping to show you something? It’s a secret though, so you can’t tell Moon about it alright?”
“A secret?” Lunar perked up with a sparkle in his eyes. “I can keep a secret!”
“Great!” Sun wasn’t feeling so confident, but it’s fine. “Come on then.”
Lunar hopped up and followed Sun to his door. Sun stopped before they entered, though Lunar didn’t seem to mind. They bounced on their feet singing a little chant under their breath. Bloodmoon knew Sun planned to bring Lunar, and Sun knew they wouldn’t do anything to hurt them. However, they could get a little… excited and Lunar was small right now. It couldn’t hurt to be cautious.
“I know this sounds weird, but uh- maybe I should hold you just for a moment? If you would let me? Better for the um thing I want to show you,” Sun said awkwardly, fidgeting.
Lunar tilted his head up at Sun, looking very curious and excited, “Like uppies?”
Sun hesitated, recalling the times Lunar had asked Moon to pick him up. They never asked Sun, but Lunar didn’t seem apprehensive right now. “Yeah, like uppies.”
When Sun held out his arms Lunar happily jumped into them. They laughed as Sun brought them up to his chest. He could hold him easily but noticed that Lunar was heavier than Bloodmoon even at a similar size. It must have been because he was denser with more nanobots that Bloodmoon just… didn’t have anymore. Whose fault was that? Sun shook his head and walked into his room.
Bloodmoon wasn’t out in the open when they stepped inside. The sound of something shifting around under the bed was obvious though. Lunar perked up, going silent as he focused on the noise. Whatever Lunar was expecting it was not Bloodmoon crawling out, judging by the lurch and surprised noise they let out. Bloodmoon gave them a nervous smile, crouched down and tense like they were restraining themselves from pouncing.
“Other brother?” Lunar asked, voice soft. They wiggled in Sun’s hold, and he kneeled down to let them go.
Bloodmoon was already purring before Lunar finished speaking. They didn’t have time to formulate a response though, as Lunar immediately pulled them into a hug. The purring grew even louder as the twins melted into it.
“I thought- How did this happen!? What are you doing here!?” Lunar pulled away to look at them better, voice raised in astonishment.
Sun’s rays, which had started spinning at the interaction, halted suddenly. He cringed and glanced away as Bloodmoon tried to meet his eyes over Lunar’s shoulder. Bloodmoon swayed in place as they thought of a reply.
“It was… an accident. Our fault. Spooked Sun and the barrel blasted. But we are fine now! Nothing can keep us down!" Bloodmoon insisted, standing up straighter.
Did Bloodmoon just… lie for him? Sun stared, trying to wrap his head around it. Even if it was an accident Sun was still clearly at fault for firing the barrel at all. Surely Lunar would catch the lie.
Lunar frowned, looking skeptical. They eyed the bandages wrapped around Bloodmoon’s chest, “Are you okay?”
Bloodmoon snickered, “Those? Just for show. Makes Sunny boy feel better though!"
The both of them turned to look at Sun and he sputtered under the sudden spotlight. Shoulders hitching up in embarrassment he tried to defend himself, “You! You’re supposed to wrap up injuries!”
That just earned him laughter. Sun grumbled, but it was lighthearted. He went over to sit on the bed. It felt awkward intruding on their little reunion, but if Lunar had questions they deserved answers.
Bloodmoon clasped Lunar’s arms to draw his attention back to them, “We have much to say! But first my twin wanted to properly introduce themselves!”
Lunar tilted their head, a little confused but patient, as Harvest spoke up excitedly, “Yes! This voice is mine and I now have a name in kind. I am Harvest! Harvest Moon.”
They were much more enthusiastic than when Sun had asked for a name behind the different voice. Before it was something given begrudgingly with annoyance, as if it was silly to differentiate the two. Now Harvest presented it to Lunar proudly.
“Oh funky! It’s a great name, Harvest.” Lunar smiled, “Does the other have a different name too?”
“Just Bloody will do,” They grinned back.
Bloodmoon pulled Lunar into another hug, starting off gently before giving him a squeeze. Lunar giggled, “You’re much cuddlier than last time I saw you.”
They growled, burying their face against Lunar, “Happy to see little brother safe and sound.”
Lunar grew starry eyed. It took a moment before he spoke up again, patting Bloodmoon’s head, “Aw that’s sweet, but it looks like you’re the little brother right now.”
Bloodmoon hissed, pulling away and pouting as Lunar just gave them a cheeky grin. Looking at them closely Sun could see that Lunar had a slight height advantage over Bloodmoon, even though Bloodmoon had healed some nanobots and was bigger than they were at the start. The minor build difference didn’t help Bloodmoon not look small either, with Lunar choosing to have a more rounded out tummy. Overall though the similarities between the two forms made Sun think Bloodmoon must have unconsciously been thinking of Lunar. They both even had tails. Bloodmoon just had a pink crescent instead of a star.
“Can’t help being small. Rude to bully the injured,” Bloodmoon grumbled.
“Sorry,” Lunar said in a way that wasn’t sorry at all, booping Bloodmoon on the nose. “Y’know I thought Sun was hiding a secret cat for a while now. Was it just you this whole time?”
“Yes, though the cat thing may still apply,” Sun smiled.
Bloodmoon seemed about done with the teasing, immediately picking up a pillow and throwing it at him. Sun reflexively flinched as he was hit in the face, but only laughed in response. Bloodmoon hissed and shot him a lighthearted glare. Lunar watched the interaction curiously with a look Sun couldn’t decipher.
“And you’re friends now?” He asked.
Were they friends? Sun felt a sudden flash of doubt, glancing back at Bloodmoon. Sure, Bloodmoon had stopped taunting him and had grown clingier, but Sun was also the only person around. Why would Bloodmoon care about him when Lunar was so much better?
Bloodmoon rumbled softly, suddenly shy under both their gazes, “We don’t need a Sun to our Moon, but this Sun can stay. A friend indeed.”
Oh. Sun had to fight his coding to restrain his rays from spinning at the confirmation. He couldn’t be that desperate, but admittedly it was a nice feeling… Sun gave them a warm smile. Hearing it out loud got rid of most of his doubts even though they were a little reluctant admitting it. It was understandable given Bloodmoon’s (lack of) experience with these kinds of things.
“Oh, that’s great!” Lunar chirped, flapping their hands. “I always hoped my brothers would get along!”
Sun nodded, “It’s- it’s been nice having Bloodmoon around. You were right about them, Lunar.”
Bloodmoon gave Lunar a curious look at that, mumbling to themselves. There was a huff before their expression brightened, “Yes yes and Sun has introduced to us many fun things. Fun things you would also enjoy! Games and shows to experience together!”
“You want to play games with me?” Lunar asked, once again bouncing on their heels despite the slight disbelief in their voice.
“Yes! You can visit and play with us whenever,” Bloodmoon glanced back at Sun, “Right Sunny?”
“Yeah! Yeah of course, though,” Sun glanced back at Lunar, “I was thinking you could also bring Bloodmoon to the theater with you sometimes. You’re less busy than me and they could use the space.”
This was news to Lunar and Bloodmoon, so Sun had two very excited animatronics looking up at him hopefully. He laughed at their matching expressions. Bloodmoon jumped forward and clung to his leg.
“Really?”
Sun nodded then looked to Lunar, “You’ll need to keep hidden though. Moon and Monty don’t know about Bloodmoon yet. Let’s try to keep it that way?”
Lunar tilted their head, but nodded with a serious look on their face. Purring loudly, Bloodmoon nuzzled their face against Sun. He smiled, patting their head. They chirruped then pulled away to pounce on Lunar.
The two young animatronics were soon tussling around on the floor. The squeaking laughter alongside Bloodmoon’s growls assured Sun they truly were just playing. Sun grinned, resting his faceplate on his hand as they wrestled without a care in the world.
This went on for a few minutes, Sun wasn’t about to interrupt them, until Lunar trapped Bloodmoon in another hug. They wiggled and hissed in his grasp but couldn’t break free. Lunar held Bloodmoon until they relaxed, patting them and quieting their growls.
Lunar giggled, “That was fun! We should do it again sometime, but you’re probably hungry right?”
Bloodmoon still looked upset at losing, but just huffed and grumbled before nodding. Lunar smiled, patting their head one more time before letting go. They stood up with a purpose, startling Sun slightly as they directed all their attention to him.
“Can you show me where you keep their food? I’ll need to know later anyway,” Lunar said.
“Oh- Right! Of course,” He got up, fingers twitching from the urge to fidget again.
“We’ll be right back,” Lunar assured Bloodmoon with a wave of their tail, “Alright! Lead the way Sun!”
Sun almost wished Bloodmoon would have made a fuss over Lunar leaving so soon. He wasn’t thrilled to be alone with him right after revealing Bloodmoon. But they didn’t appear to mind, only growling softly and tucking themselves on a blanket that had been strewn across the floor from their playing. That was fine!
Mumbling his own goodbye to Bloodmoon Sun led Lunar out.
“Alright so- obviously I can’t keep anything in the daycare,” Sun explained as they walked.
The small animatronic skipped alongside him with a hum of acknowledgment. They were just out the daycare doors when Lunar spoke up again, “Actually… I don’t really need to know where their food is right now. I still have blood bags saved from before! I just wanted to talk to you.”
He faltered and stopped in his tracks. Oh. Of course.
Sun glanced away, bracing himself. Of course Lunar wasn’t going to question him in front of Bloodmoon. They didn’t buy their lie. They knew it wasn’t an accident they were going to hate him for what he did-
“You actually like Bloodmoon despite what they’ve done?” Lunar said in a voice that suddenly lacked any of the mirth it had before.
“Y-yes?” Sun stuttered, rays shrinking in. “Yes, I do. I know they’ve… killed people, Eclipse made them that way, but I think they can be better! They don’t like being this way and they like other things and if I just gave them a chance-“ He fumbled over his explanation, trying to ignore the look Lunar was giving him. But it was all true. Sun did hope they could be better after all this.
“Yeah,” Lunar interrupted him as their intense gaze softened almost as soon as it appeared, “Yeah it’s not their fault. Bloodmoon didn’t know better.”
They frowned for a moment, appearing lost in thought before looking back at him with a soft smile, “So they’re really the reason you’re happier, huh?”
Lunar switched up so fast sometimes that Sun couldn’t keep up. Lunar… wasn’t accusing him of anything? He remained wary as he replied, “I guess so? I don’t know if I’m really happier-“
“Seems like it to me!” Lunar interrupted him voice once again cheery. “Seems like you’ve both been good for each other actually.”
He paused to give Lunar a good look. Were they fine now? Sun still couldn’t tell if Lunar secretly knew or was just grilling him as a protective brother. He decided it didn’t matter right now. Sun relaxed just a little.
“I’m glad you think so?” He tried not to make it sound so much like a question, but Sun was lost on what to say. Or even how to feel about that thought in general…
Lunar laughed spinning around to be right in front of Sun, “We should get going though. Bloodmoon is still expecting food.”
Sun let out a relieved sigh. No more questions then. “Right right, this way then.”
They started walking again in not quite comfortable silence. Sun tried not to think too hard over what just happened. That wasn’t… so bad. He expected worse.
After a moment Lunar spoke up once again, “Hey Sun?”
Sun cringed internally. He turned to him and was surprised to find Lunar looking sheepish, “…Thank you for taking care of Bloodmoon. Really.”
The small voice in the back of his head hissed that he didn’t deserve thanks he hurt them, and it was all his fault- Sun studied Lunar’s face and thought back on how happy he and Bloodmoon were earlier. How excited Bloodmoon got when introduced to new things. The voice didn’t make him feel so terrible, not in this moment.
Sun gave Lunar a soft smile, “It's the least I could do.”