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”Are you ready kid?” Moon asks as puts a portal down Sun already going through barely giving his twin a glance. He looks at the ghost next to him going down to one knee to be level with the eleven year old. TJ nods shyly hands reaching for the bell on the lunar attendant’s wrist. The night themed bot smiles slightly as he unties the bell from his wrist giving it to the boy.
”You can keep it I have plenty more.” He continues with a fond tilt to his words a soft smile on his faceplate for once. TJ takes the bell smiling brightly as he rings it repeatedly when messing with the ribbon attached. Once Moon stands TJ grabs his hand anyway startling the scientist he keeps forgetting the kid likes him he’s still not used to it even with the emotions. Moon let’s out a huff of air through his fans as he enters though the portal with the child to his and Sun’s house
”This is Mine and Sun’s house.” Moon introduces from the front porch. The two story house was fully lit three figures visible from the front door. The nightcare attendant opens the door so the ghost could enter without feeling like an intruder. A small deer animatronic and a scarecrow looking moon animatronic freeze in the middle of their game which appears to be pirates.
”Hello. I am Jack” Jack confidently introduces himself getting down from the couch to see the child Moon just brought into the house with him better.
”I’m Dazzle.” Dazzle says walking up to the ghost boy waving as she walks up to him closer than Jack anyways.
“Dazzle, Jack, this is TJ he can't really talk and will be staying with us for a while. I'm gonna be working on a body so he can do more.” Moon informs while attempting to not give too much unnecessary information.
“So he’s like me?!” the small fawn questions excitedly with a gasp. She’s practically vibrating jumping up and down excitedly as Sun watched from the couch fondly at his daughter’s enthusiasm.
“He’s like Dazzle?” Jack asks head tilting slightly in curiosity. TJ looks at Moon for confirmation slightly comfused on how he could be like the young doe in front of him.
“Yeah he just doesn't possess something like Dazzle yet.” the lunar animatronic explains one hand slightly animated the other in TJ’s hand still. The ghost seems to finally understand eyes looking at the fawn curiously before pointing at himself to Dazzle and back to himself.
“Yeah I am!” the deer confirms nodding her head enthusiastically grabbing the boy’s hand.
“You wanna play with me n’ Jack?” Dazzle asks excited changing the subject once she confirmed that TJ was a friend. The eleven year old spirit looks up to Moon for confirmation unsure what to do it’s been a long time since he’s been with anyone other than his dad. Moon nods slightly to encourage the young specter watching as the ghost boy turns to his niece and begins nodding rapidly.
“We are pirates!” Jack adds enthusiastically jumping from foot to foot.
“Do you want to be a pirate?” the teen pumpkin probes offering his pirate hat so TJ doesn't feel uncomfortable with joining. The corporal boy nods letting go of Moon and gently taking the hat to put on his head before beaming at Jack.
“Oh what kinda pirate you wanna be?” Dazzle questions tilting her head innocently. The poor boy didn't seem to understand also tilting his head but in confusion instead.
“Dazzle I don't think he understood the question.” Sun fills in knowing that Dazzle hasn’t really dealt with people that can’t talk.
”Ohhh” the fawn draws out in understanding turning from her dad back to the new kid before her.
”well I’m a good pirate and Jack is a bad pirate. Do you wanna be a good or bad pirate?” She probes again arms swinging at her sides while she waits for an answer. The phantom looks between the two before pointing at Jack.
”Glad you three are getting along. I’m gonna go get the chess pieces okay TJ?” Moon asks finally returning from where ever he came from with an empty box the ghost hadn’t even noticed but turns back and nods anyways before going back to the game.
”I’ll be back in ten.” The lunar attendant informs Sun giving his twin a salute as he goes through a portal disappearing in a blink of an eye. Sun sighs before watching his daughter and boys play pirates it seems Jack and TJ are winning.
Appearing in the gray hallway of stairs Moon sighs walking up the unnecessary staircase. The empty room seems so much colder with no one to occupy it was so silent the nighttime attendant began to wonder what TJ even did before Sun and him took the mute boy in. There seemed to be nothing but the chess set with a dead TV and empty hallway. The scientist knows theirs no bedrooms and if there were the kid obviously had no access to it sleeping in that little chair.
”Jesus.” Moon breathes out after touching the chair which felt like rebond foam practically as hard as a rock. It probably didn’t feel very nice for the eleven year old. Did the Overseer even notice the night themed animatronic doubts it. Especially because the guy was so busy he probably didn’t even notice he was scaring his own kid with all the bounty hunters. He knew he was a bad person before but he would have never done that to a kid even when he didn’t have feelings because that would be just messed up to put an innocent kid through that.
”Johnathan…” he whispers to no one under his breath this reminds him of Johnathan so much having such a neglectful parent and then the parents are killed the only difference was that TJ was already long gone but Johnathan sweet Johnathan was lost to a monster of his own making. Moon’s hands were shaking and he dropped the box quickly scrambling to put the chess pieces into the box and his mind away from the past. The bot’s fans shutter as he finishes putting the pieces away his hands haven’t stopped shaking. Moon let’s out a shaky sigh picking up the box and finally leaving for hopefully the last time.
Returning Moon opens the door to find Dazzle, Jack, and TJ coloring in the living room Sun watching over the three bluey playing on the TV in the background. The young spirit’s head shoots up his face lighting up with joy as he grabs a paper and draws a chessboard as fast a possible. The star themed bot barely makes it to the living room when the little phantom rushes up to him.
”Hey kid how are ya doin?” He asks kneeling down to TJ’s level. The lunar bot slightly hesitates before ruffling the ghost’s hair. TJ starts laughing silently his body shaking in unbridled joy. Moon smiles softly his tense form finally relaxing. Sun watching from the background gives a small smile at the moment.
”I’m gonna start on dinner.” Sun informs standing from the couch stretching his joints with a pop. Arms fall as he walks to the kitchen his daughter and Jack continue to draw and watch bluey giving Moon and TJ the perfect opportunity for chess.
”common let’s go to the dining table.” The nighttime attendant suggests standing up to lead the little boy to the table. The paper is placed on the table as TJ climbs into a chair sitting on his knees to be at level with the table. Moon chuckles lightly settling up the chess pieces sitting diagonally from the ghost.
The two would play multiple games of chess for about half an hour with Moon winning more times than not but TJ wasn’t far behind only losing by four rounds.
”Dazzle, Jack, dinner’s ready.” Sun calls from the kitchen bringing out the batch of tacos he made. Moon starts cleaning off the table apologizing to TJ. The young phantom just shrugs helping Moon with the chess pieces.
”Tacos, I like the crunch.” Jack claims already reaching for a taco Dazzle following close behind that mischievous look in her eyes that she learned from Moon.
”no no no no no no. We still have to set the table.” Sun reprimands blocking the duo from the tacos brows raised. TJ’s face falls slightly as he gazes at the food he can’t consume longingly. Moon noticed unsure what to say blurts the first thing that comes to mind.
”Do you wanna work on the design of your body?” The lunar animatronic sputters not sure what else he can do but distract the eleven year old from food he can’t eat. The spirit lights up running to the living room to draw a vague idea of what he wants to look like Moon follows with a slight chuckle waving to Sun as he goes to the living room he could eat later.
About an hour passes before TJ begins to silently yawn trying to rub the sleep from his eye To continue drawing. The naptime attendant of course notices it’s what he was originally made for, sort of. He stands gently shaking the ghost’s shoulder to get his attention.
“Hey buddy it is time for bed. Why don't we get you situated upstairs?” Moon whispered softly gently leading the little specter up the stairs and into his bedroom. The room was pitch black until the lunar animatronic flipped the light switch. TJ looked at the bed in awe it looked so comfy and big. The ghost boy points to himself the bed and then himself again.
“Yep that’s where you’ll be sleeping.” the scientist confirms lifting the young boy with ease.
“Now let's get you to bed young man.” Moon continues tucking the small boy into what was probably the biggest bed he’s ever seen in his afterlife. TJ silently chuckles when being tucked in his face full of mirth and joy. Once the little phantom falls asleep the DCA turns off the light and sneaks down stairs as to not disturb their young guest’s slumber.
“Okay…” the night owl breaths out once he made it to the couch plugging in the extension cord so he would charge god forbid he forgot he ain't risking a low battery as he flops face first into the slightly lumpy couch cushions. He practically passed out as his faceplate made contact with the cushion.
What might have been hours later Moon wakes to tiny cold hands pushing at his arm looking up still half asleep he only sees watery eyes looking back. He shoots up once his curcit board caught up to what he was seeing.
“Hey, hey, what happened? Are you okay?” the nightcare attendant questions his voice soft and full of worry. Cupping the young spirit’s face Moon gently wipes the tears away the boy still trembling.
“Was it a nightmare?” he whispers into silence watching TJ begin to nod rapidly.
“It's okay. I'm here I'm right here.” the scientist attemps to comfort getting up to carry the poor boy back to bed. He enters his bedroom only to notice how TJ seems to hide his face in his chest when entering the dark room.
“Are you afraid of the dark?” Moon asks putting a strand of hair behind the boy’s ear gently encouraging him to look up. When the ghost finally looks up he nods looking out the door instead of the dark room.
“That’s okay. Let’s turn on a light for you buddy.” the daycare animatronic replies walking over to the bathroom and turning on the light leaving the door open 1/4 of the way so the room isn't to dark or to bright. TJ instantly relaxes going limp in Moon’s arms. The lunar themed bot goes to the bed tucking the small specter in again time he joins the ghost in bed.
“So I haven’t done this in a long time so no laughing okay.” Moon jokes witch causes TJ to laugh silently before nodding.
“Days seem sometimes as if they'll never end
Sun digs its heels to taunt you
But after sunlit days, one thing stays the same
Rises the moon
Days fade into a watercolour blur
Memories swim and haunt you
But look into the lake, shimmering like smoke
Rises the moon
Oh-oh, close your weary eyes
I promise you that soon the autumn comes
To darken fading summer skies
Breathe, breathe, breathe
Days pull you down just like a sinking ship
Floating is getting harder
But tread the water, child, and know that meanwhile
Rises the moon
Days pull you up just like a daffodil
Uprooted from its garden
They'll tell you what you owe, but know even so
Rises the moon
You'll be visited by sleep
I promise you that soon the autumn comes
To steal away each dream you keep
Breathe, breathe, breathe…” Moon trails off watching as TJ sleeps peacefully. If he had a heart it’d be melting at the sight. As he watches he slowly starts to realize something. Moon could only whisper into the silence as realization consumed him.
“… Fuck I’m a dad.”