"Oh." You quietly squeak out. "Hey.. Moon."
He stares at you for a second, the warmth of a few seconds ago when Sun was across the security desk is replaced with a chill breeze, like a ghost suddenly passed right through your body.
"Leave." He growls. Unsmiling. A bitter emotionless mouth in a line, eyes a blinding white as he stares coldly straight into your soul, you can feel the vibrations in your chest but don't have a chance to respond when he turns around, torso and legs first, his head following soon after.
It.. must be naptime, you guess. You read about naptime protocol in the documents you received, so you kinda expected it at some point. It was still a surprise as to how it was introduced.
The ceiling had turned to a vibrant display of shimmering, glowing stars, the moon under the balcony at the end of the room glowing just bright enough in coordination with the stars above to light up the room perfectly as to find your way around. It was cozy.
Moon coos out, "Come on now children, It's time for a nap. Nitey.. nitey nite.."
He begins to arrange the mats in the area behind the left most jungle gym as kids gather around, Moon making sure they're equal length and just far enough for kids to be comfortable falling asleep. You were behind the security desk, the naptime area was just a little bit in front, closer to the left wall, and more than large enough to house at least forty kids, sectioned off by cute little squishy stacked colorful blocks here and there
He makes his way over to the supply closet to the far left of the security desk you were standing at, still observing and processing his cold gaze earlier.
Unlocking it with a swipe of his hand on the card reader, he opens the creaking door, leaning in, and popping out with what seems like a hundred blankets carried under his right arm, and dozens up dozens of pillows and stuffed animals in his left, all squished up together to fit for one trip.
He closes the door with his foot, making very sure it doesn't slam, and lays blankies and pillows onto the mats, swiftly and gracefully.
There are a few stragglers still among the play area. Some protest, some hide, some cry, but somehow, Moon always comforts and persuades them to gather around the naptime area. He's gentle and considerate, brushing his fingers through their hair, or simply grasping their hand lightly and leading them to the mats, sometimes a kid in each hand.
Grabbing their attention, Moon puts on a little magic show. With each kid, or sometimes a group of four, he'll either flip his hands in a dexterous spectacle before four small candies appear between his fingers, and sometimes with the more grumpy kids, he'll personally give them their own little performance, pulling a candy out from behind their ear after making it clear he has nothing on either side of his hands. You really wondered how he did that. It seemed to be a trick him and Sun shared.
By now you've made your way up closer to the naptime area, quietly, as to not disturb or distract anyone, but also not to alert Moon. You don't think him telling you to leave was a suggestion, rather than an order. You don't feel in danger. Yet.
The kids choose their spots, cradling some stuffed animals they've favorited. Either from among the play area already, or some Moon brought from the closet. Moon sorts out any confusion, and begins tucking a few in, gently rubbing their head, others witnessing the comforting display and making grabby hands to signal they want the attention as well. With some kids already asleep, he asks in a quiet, calming voice "Now now, would anyone like a bedtime story? Or maybe.. a lullaby? Raise your hand now if you want a lullaby~". The majority do raise their hands, but he still asks about the story, to which a few do raise their hands. They're not very disappointed when he announces the lullaby is the clear winner.
After all the kids still awake are satisfied and comfortable, he makes his way to the dark blue colorful plastic little block in front of them all and sits down, knees bent past his torso even with the bit of elevation. He begins humming, then singing in a low harmonizing voice, soothing, moving. It does make your heart flutter. Something about the Moon, of course. You're captivated unlike the children who are drifting to sleep left and right. Even without the candies, you're sure this would be enough to comfort anyone to sleep, and then you start feeling sleepy. Dammit.
His lullaby ends in gentle humming. The kids are all out cold, and you would be too if you weren't standing upright. You arms still crossed in a defensive position. Moon slowly looks towards you, his body unmoving, but his head shifting to stare at you for a couple of seconds, before slowly turning back towards the children to observe and watch over them. His eyes barely illuminate the surroundings, and it seems like he has control of the intensity, given his eyes seeming a lot brighter and menacing when he stared at you after the transition.
He just stays there, and you stay right where you are as well. Both of you observing each other in the moment.
It's been a few minutes before Moon starts to move. He quietly, silently, makes his way over to one of the kids, and begins to gently cradle them into his arms, still snugged into the blanket. He bends back up with the child in his hold, and starts walking towards the back door next to the security desk that leads out to the stairs which will eventually meet the Daycare lobby. You decide to follow him cautiously, just curious.
Making his way up the stairs, you're a bit behind him, and you wait at the top while he hands off the kid to their parents, making sure to methodically untangle the blanket away from the child as the dad takes the kid from Moon.
You notice the parents seem a bit uncomfortable, cautiously observing Moon, not looking away from him for a second except to take the kid he's gently exchanging them in return for a white and electric blue ticket.
You read in the documents emailed to you that Sun is linked to the front desk, so when parents come to pick up and drop off their kids, they get a ticket, as well as having their face logged by the security cameras in the Daycare. There are a few other checks to make sure the right kid is handed off to the right parent, but it would only make sense for Moon to share this feature as well.
Moon is always gentle, he's kind. He's sweet. The parents don't notice nor care however - their faces full of fear and subtle disgust, they completely disregard him as soon as the kid is in their hands, and Moon has the ticket. He stands there for a second, watching them as they leave, his hand still hovering a little where he holds the ticket. You can only imagine how neglected the attendants are, and how easy it is for others to perceive them as monsters. They may be scary, but you're sure even Moon is just a little misunderstood. You hope he warms up to you eventually.
Off the parents go, out the exit while Moon hurries past you, blanket wrapped around his hand, pretending like you're not even there. He rushes back to keep an eye on the kids napping. The cold air hits your face and exposed arms like pins and needles as he walks past, almost bumping into you while making his way down the stairs, four steps at a time.
You decide not to follow immediately, but eventually you do make your way down. To the right of the stairs once you're at the bottom, and then the left directly in front of the Daycare doors - are the restrooms and water fountains a little bit down the ways in an area with a lowered, but still tall ceiling. The kids would occasionally be escorted by Sun there in groups on potty breaks. You found them initially when washing off the paint from your hands an hour or so ago. There was also a break room farther right of the restrooms, but not in the lowered ceiling area which was reserved for those restrooms. The door was closed and you hadn't bothered to explore it yet.
You're.. pretty parched. You haven't really had anything to eat or drink except for drinking up your coffee this morning. You weren't really good at taking care of yourself, and eating was no exception, it being so inconsistent.
A couple sips from the water fountain and you make your way back to the lower entrance of the Daycare. Quietly and cautiously opening the doors and entering, not making it a step or two in before a blur of white and blue lunges at you from the right, and next thing you know, you're being held up against the wall.
His left hand is covering your mouth, preventing the initial yelp you let slip as you were being swung around and lifted up about two feet off the ground. His right hand is on your neck, and it's the only thing holding you up.
"Mmmmmmh" Moon hums. "Now now now now.. keep quiet quiet quiet, pretty pretty pleeeaassssseee~. I Promise you, if you wake the kids up, it'll be the last thing you ever do in this Daycare."
His crimson eyes are piercing into your skin. Burning red that suddenly flickers back to white. As Moon now notices the flush pink swelling up the tiny bit of neck that's exposed from his hand, and into your face, he lessens his grip slightly. In the dim light, anyone else wouldn't have seen it and let you suffocate. If he didn't manually switch out of night vision, you'd be out cold by now.
Your hands digging into his arms do nothing. They're soft though, almost squishy to the touch. Silicone? You didn't really have time to think about that right now though, you were about to be choked unconscious by a homicidal robot.
Moon growls, just loud enough for you to hear. "Now.. Starlight.. I am going to let you down. My promise is still in effect however, please do keep it in mind." He giggles for a second, before lowering you.
You attempt to escape to the side from his imposing frame, but as soon as you move an inch, both his hands have tightly gripped your wrists and pressured them into the wall, careful not to make any noise in his violent display of strength.
You wince. Tears are bubbling up at the corners of your eyes, his grip is only tightening.
Clenching your teeth, you quietly struggle out, "P-please. Moon." quieter than a mouse.
"Hmmmm?" He leans towards your face. You cry, "I'm..j-just trying to help!" conveying your urgency while still almost inaudible to anyone else, however his sensors have no trouble savoring your pleas.
"You're hurting me". You're crying now, tears are rolling down your cheek and your heart is beating in your ears. You're burning up, and no matter how cold he is, it doesn't help one bit.
He lets go, and you slump to the ground, clutching your wrists in agony. Your head is tucked into your knees and you refuse to look at the monster looming above you.
Moon crouches down to where you fell. "What are you playing aaaaaat.. why are you here?"
You mumble through the tears, the bubble in the back of your throat catching your words before spitting them out inconsistently in a shudder with each syllable.
"I.. I told you. I t-t..old.. you. I just want.. I just w-want to help."
You can hear him creaking. But that's all he does before snapping back bitterly.
"No one is ever here to just help, little Starlight, you are no exception. Leave."
He grabs your metallic, glimmering moon earring between his thumb and index finger, and squeezes. It's unrecognizable now.
He slowly lets go and stands back to his full height as you uncover your face, eyes stinging and burning, craning your neck up to meet his blinding white eyes, they flicker to red for a second, before returning. He looks at you in indifference before turning away and making his way back over to the still fast asleep children.
Your heart sinks. So.. this is why the job paid so much. If you don't want to be in debt for the rest of your life due to the contract you signed, you're stuck here for a year at least. You should've read the fine print. You should've just read the contracts at least a little. Idiot.
What was wrong with them.
You use your elbows to push open and exit the daycare doors, straining your wrists with each and every movement. Making your way to the bathroom and entering a back stall next to some other area separated by curtains, you slump against the tiled wall to the ground and cry again for what seemed like ages.
What was wrong with them.
You couldn't stop thinking. Your ears wouldn't stop ringing. You cried until you were dehydrated again and then some.
1:29. It hurt to flip your wrist to check the time. you could clock out at 2.
How the actual fuck were you not going to die here.
It wasn't boring at least.
This is what you wanted.
This is what you wanted.