Monty crept up behind Moon as they flitted about the daycare, picking up toys and cleaning up messes. He’d been practicing for weeks to sneak up on the pizzaplex’s stealthiest animatronic, which was a lot harder than you’d think when your default running was so heavy it shook the ground.
Magenta eyes were drawn back to their original goal: the bell at the end of Moon’s nightcap. Roxy had bet him that if he could steal either the bell, or better yet, the entire hat, without the jester being alerted to his presence, she would admit he was the best. And Roxy didn’t make bets like that easily.
He narrowed his eyes, his bandmate had been getting pretty cocky ever since he’d been out of commission for a week the last time he raged. Clenching his fists, Monty took a deep ‘breath‘ and made his way towards the daycare attendant.
Oh good, they were trying to figure out how to stack the drums. Chica had mentioned before that the daycare attendant sometimes forgot which order they’d decided on stacking them. Almost theeerrree. YES!
In the bassist’s purple clawed grip was the end of Moon’s nightcap, bell twinkling softly in the dim lighting. man, he couldn’t wait to shove it in Roxy’s smug face and-. Oh. Oh shit.
Moon had gone rigid. Of course the other animatronic would have felt the hat’s movement. It was on their freakin head for Faz’s sake. Monty panicked, if he got banned here, he wouldn’t be able to make a second attempt at stealing the bell. Quick, do something not suspicious!
Moon turned around and promptly short circuited at the sight of the Montgomery Gator kissing the fabric of his nightcap.
“!!!“
Monty cracked an eye open to gauge the jester’s reaction and prayed that it looked like he was winking. Pulling away from the cap, but keeping his hold on it, the bassist gave them a lopsided smirk.
“Evenin’, Darlin’. Jus’ wanted ta introduce m’self-“
The left side of their faceplate started glowing. “Mont... gomery... Gator?“ They asked, confused on why a Glam was in the daycare, and at this time of day to boot.
“Heh, got it in one, lil guy.“ Monty let go of Moon’s cap, claws catching on the thread and accidentally freeing the bell. “Shoot, sorry. Yer Moon, yeah?“
The jester nodded. Darn it, how could they show a Glam such a disheveled appearance? Their costume was probably coming apart again with how easily their bell fell off. How embarrassing.
Moon’s faceplate grew brighter and they grabbed the empty space of their cap, playing with the end of it to give their hands something to do. Monty picked up the bell and held it up, shaking the bauble and catching the attendant’s attention.
”Listen, I’m real sorry ‘bout damagin’ yer costume. I can put in a good word with P&S about getting it fixed or replaced or somethin’. If yer ok with me taking this,” he shook the bell again. “As proof? And if y’don’t ban me from yer daycare of course.” He chuckled. Internally he was ‘sweating’ bullets. Please take the bait, please take the bait, please take the bait.
The jester must have still been a little starstruck and a lot embarrassed, since they could only nod jerkily before picking up one of the fallen drums.
“Cool, cool.“ Monty started jogging backwards towards the exit, grateful to escape the awkward conversation, and with his prize no less! Score 2 for Monty (he was going to count surviving the daycare attendant as one of the points).
“Catch ya later, lil guy!“ he called out.
Moon watched as the gator left their daycare, immediately pulling their hat over their eyes and screaming with Sun in their shared headspace once they saw the doors close.
Halloween. It used to be your favorite day of the year when you were a kid. You loved to dress up in funny or scary costumes and go out all around your neighborhood begging for candy from random strangers you would never speak to otherwise.
Your tradition ended when you were twenty-two and moved out into the big city to attend university. Lolly tried to get you to trick-or-treat with her, but you didn't trust the city folk. Your neighborhood was fairly kind and...law abiding citizens, but after being mugged for the third time in the first year you lived there, you had enough. No trick-or-treating for you.
Now that the world ended, you had even more reason not to go trick-or-treating.
You wished you could take Stardrop trick-or-treating. Imagine being a year old and not experiencing the fun of Halloween, even if you were living in a post-apocalyptic city crawling with mutated human remains that only wanted to eat your skin and flesh.
Stardrop didn't even know what Halloween was. You and Sun had decided not to tell her. Why tell her something she would not get to experience in her lifetime? Moon, on the other hand, wanted to tell Stardrop everything. He had told you, and very wisely at that, that "just because the world ended, it does not justify depriving a child of the best moments in life."
You had to agree with Moon on that one. It wasn't like you could take Stardrop trick-or-treating. There was one other person living in the building, and you didn't think January would appreciate being woken up before guard duty just to play dress up.
Either way, you and Moon settled down to talk to Stardrop about the wonders of Halloween. Since she was a little less than a year old, she didn't understand too much other than "monsters." She could walk, run, and climb a fence, but could barely sign her own name.
Fair enough.
She never had candy, either, so there wasn't anyway to hype her up for that. Moon wasn't sure what else he could do to teach Stardrop about Halloween.
Eventually the two of you gave up, and you and Stardrop went to sleep.
When you woke the next morning, Sun had a surprise for the two of you. He had found some Halloween movies in some of the neighboring apartments, and Moon and January had spent her guard making "caramel." (It was only melted sugar and water, but Stardrop didn't need to know that.)
Sun had also put together a cute little ghost costume for Stardrop to wear while the three of you watched the Halloween movies that evening.
All day, while you and Sun taught Stardrop about Halloween, she seemed to get more and more excited. The few words she could sign without struggle seemed to multiply as she asked Sun a thousand questions (she knew better than to sign at you rapidly, your signing would never be as good as Sun's and Moon's).
By the time the sun set and Moon had set up the movies on the television, Stardrop was beginning to get tired. Even her extra long afternoon nap did nothing to keep her awake. She managed to get halfway through Halloweentown, and her eyes just couldn't stay focused between darting back and forth between the screen and Moon's signing.
It was barely eight when Moon tucked Stardrop into bed. The caramel would have to wait until tomorrow.
When he came back, you were curled up on the couch, blanket wrapped around your shoulders. Now that he didn't have to sign, he could relax next to you on the couch.
He sank in beside you, stealing some of your blanket so his metallic limbs could warm up. Moon knew you weren't keen on cuddling him when he freezing to the touch - which was often in the autumn and winter seasons.
Moon motioned for you to come closer, which you did, tiredly. Usually, you went to bed shortly after the sun set, and you didn't always get to spend time with Moon. It was nice on those rare occasions when you could. He was gentle and calm with you, more than Sun was (not that you minded, you loved them both).
Moon began to run his fingers through your hair, careful not too tug too hard and disturb your comfort. As his fingers carded through your hair, you felt your eyelids getting heavier. But, you didn't want to sleep yet. You wanted to just spend more time with Moon.
If you voiced that concern to him, though, you knew how he would act. Even now, after months of working on his behavior, Moon got a little skittish around you not sleeping, especially if you hadn't been sleeping well at all the last few days.
He would know. Moon hovered around you while you slept, and sometimes would even lay in bed with you to keep you company - "keep you safe" he would always say.
You had gotten used to his presence at bedtime. In fact, you couldn't sleep without him there, anymore, and you didn't have to often. Stardrop slept through the night now, and January kept most of the creatures out of the building at night with her traps.
"Go to sleep," Moon whispered, bending down the push his face plate against your forehead and humming, "If you're tired, you should go to sleep."
You rolled over slightly so you could stare up at him. He gazed back down at you before he nuzzled your forehead again.
"Moony," you whispered back, "Did you know that I love you?"
He hummed again, "Are you trying to butter me up so that I don't force you to sleep?"
"...no..."
Moon's grin widened against your forehead, and he pulled back to stare down at you. His one eye was bright red, and the other was dark. He usually had to focus really hard to illuminate both eyes ever since the one got damaged.
"Have I ever told you...how...glad I am that you dug me out of that pile?"
You could feel the heat rush to your face. He doesn't bring up your meeting often, and usually only as leverage.
"I don't think I can sleep, Moon," you cooed, "All these Halloween movies are going to give me nightmares..."
Moon's face deadpanned. Halloweentown was one of the least scary Halloween movies, and here you were claiming it was going to give you nightmares. You couldn't help but giggle up at his face plate.
"Shh, I'm kidding."
He bonked you with his forehead, and you giggled even more. His fingers trailed along your sides, feather light, until they curled into your hips and held you still.
Moon leaned down, his face awfully close to yours again, and he said: "You're an idiot."
He gently pecked your lips with his permanent grin and then lifted you from the couch, spinning you around as he did so. You giggled harder and wiggled, trying to get out of his grasp.
You couldn't, naturally.
Moon carried you in a ball of blanket toward your bedroom, humming a lullaby while he did. He deposited you on your bed and then flopped down on the mattress beside you.
"I think we should continue Halloween tomorrow," he concluded, "For Stardrop's sake. She didn't get to celebrate too much."
He was a softy when it came to Stardrop. Of course he would want to please her. The three of you would probably spend all day watching more Halloween movies and eating the caramel January made.
"I'm not sure Sun will let us lay around all day," you said, "Especially not with that much screen time."
Moon rolled over on top of you, hovering just above and stared down at your face for a second, "He said that he can be persuaded," he nearly purred, "You just need to spend some time with him...in the morning before Stardrop wakes up."
You push Moon's face plate away from your face. He chuckles and rolls off you onto the bed again, pulling the blankets up and around the two of you. The only light you see is his eye light, and it's gazing at you, like usual.
"Goodnight," he whispered.
"'Night," you agreed, "Halloween two tomorrow."
He bumps his faceplate against your head again, and begins to card through your hair with his fingers.
Maybe next year, you could take Stardrop for a proper trick-or-treat. Maybe the world will be better by then...
