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Jack sat curled up on Solar's bed...his father's bed. His arms wrapped tightly around both his Foxy Plushie that his father had 'borrowed' for him from Molten's Prize Counter back at the first Pizzeria and the blanket his father used to sleep on. His face plate was still broken. His anger still present. Overall, Jack needed some space and time. He needed his father. But Solar did not want to come see him and Jack didn't know why he couldn't. Now, Jack was just taking it all in. By himself. Not that he really wanted to be by himself like this, feeling weak and tortured. And just about every somber feeling in the book.
That saying, he wouldn't cry...not a single bit.
Though, a big part of him wanted to. Jack curled up tighter, hugging the items tighter, and just wishing. He could actually feel his nonexistent heart breaking with each shaking, shuddering sob that threatened to rip out tears from somewhere within him. His entire frame felt heavy and hard to move as if someone had turned off his mobility. Jack fought back the tears because he wouldn't cry. NO! He had to be brave for his father. Solar was fighting the Overseer by himself. The least that Jack can do is be brave and not call his father for every little thing. He was fine. Jack was...fine.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Jack perked up at the sound. He sat up quickly moving to open the door, happy that he was here. His father actually came! He promised Sun that he'll come in a few days and see Jack to make sure everything was okay. And Jack had waited patiently for him. He was finally able to see his father again after so long! He wouldn't be so alone. And he'll get to hug his father until he can't no longer. Jack would finally have his family back. Him, Solar, maybe even Nebula would be here and both of them would hug him to sleep. He wouldn't be so alone. He, his father, and maybe his new mother.
But standing there wasn't Solar. Similar but not him. It was Sun. His posture had subtle tones of being stressed, uneasy, and slightly afraid. Jack's shoulders slumped in dejection as he looked up at Sun. He just stood there staring off into space, trying not to worry Sun too much either. He just wondered when things would matter about him. Where he was. Where he was going. What about his education? About his life. Everything is always about everyone else. No one cared when he had nightmares. No one cared about when he was kidnapped. Sun and Moon never came to his aid. That's why Solar meant so much to him. He had always been there. Let him be a kid.
"Hey, Jack...how you doing?" Sun placed a hand on Jack's shoulder.
"I'm fine." He shrugged his shoulders.
Sun sighed, "No. No, you're not."
"What?"
"Come here." He brought Jack into a hug, squeezing tightly. "I'm so sorry this happened to you."
He just froze. Sun let his hand rub along Jack's back, pressing him more firmly against his torso. His other hand runs through his rayless head and under his hat. Jack almost cried at the gentle care he was receiving. It had been too long since he was taken care of like this. Even then it was only because he broke down because of a nightmare and Solar had comforted him by holding him until he calmed down. No one sought him out. He was always felt so...used. Like they only had him to protect them. Like no matter what, that's all he was good for. But here. In Sun's arms, he felt more loved than he did before.
"I'm here." Sun whispered, squeezing tighter, if he could even do that.
That had done it. Jack started crying, arms wrapping around Sun's torso, and burying his face into his stomach. He knew that the broken part of his faceplate was probably digging uncomfortably into Sun's frame, but Sun made no noise of protest. He just adjusted himself to bring Jack closer, make him feel closer. Both hands still idly rubbed over his back and head and still squeezed him comfortably. Sun holding him like he does Dazzle. As if he were precious and loved.
Though, he wished that instead of Sun it was Solar holding him like this. Making him feel like Solar cared...because at this moment, it felt like he didn't care. Yet, thinking that while Sun was here made him feel like a bad nephew. Here Sun was being nice to him, treating him like he was his own son, and all Jack can think about is Solar. How much he wanted him here instead. How much he missed him. Why did he have to be the one to go through this? Why does it feel like no one had ever been on his side in all this? When Solar left, he just let him go, even when he wanted to hold him back. And never let go.
Sun separated him from himself, picked Jack up, and hugged him until he could place him back in bed. He gently wrapped Solar's blanket around his frame, tucking him in tight. Sun made sure to put the foxy plushie under Jack's chin. He then proceeds to sit on the edge of the bed close to Jack but still remaining some space between them. He watched Sun smooth out crinkles of his sheets as he sat there. Just having Sun take care of him like this felt like he was truly his family. He liked to think Sun was doing it for him, to keep him calm. But most likely it was just so he can say he took care of Solar's son. He wanted more.
He wanted his father.
Sun took a deep breath in, "I'm sure Solar is coming back as soon as he can." He adjusted the blanket as he spoke, making sure Jack was comfortable.
"He's been three days already." He pouted. "I just..."
"I know, buddy. I know." He pets Jack on his head. "He's just not thinking correctly at the moment. He thinks he has to do this...defeat the Overseer."
"I could have helped! I'm powerful!"
Sun chuckled, "Yeah, you are."
Jack sat up, "I could have helped."
"Solar is just....in a mood." Sun crossed his arms. "He wants to protect you and is just going about it the wrong way."
"But I could have helped him." His voice got soft, sad, lonely.
Sun stopped petting his nightcap and leaned back a little as he looked at Jack. His entire demeanor screamed nervousness, hands shaking and twitching. Sun looked back at Jack. His hands start re-tucking him under the blanket and adjusting his pillow. The yellow animatronic glanced out the window at the dark sky. It always seemed dark now. He looked back at the child-like robot with something soft. It wasn't shown in his face or even body, it was something he felt, sensed. Sun had been different for a while now. He wasn't as emotional as he was when he worked at the daycare. He was number to everything. He didn't laugh with them anymore, want to watch movies as much. Ever since Sun had to kill Nexus. Sun liked Nexus more than he ever did to Moon, but Jack would never say that to anyone else. Most because he knew that Nexus only liked Solar between the two.
That wasn't Sun's fault; he had his issues thanks to Moon.
Jack remembered when he first met Moon. This Moon wasn't Nexus. He wasn't as caring towards his siblings. Nor did he feel like family. And when he first saw Sun interact with Moon, there had been some tension. Sun didn't stand as close, spend a lot of time with, or even did things with Old Moon. Moon wasn't Nexus and Nexus wasn't Moon. Jack could see that between the two. Solar hadn't really met old Moon either, only a few times here and there, but Solar didn't mind Moon. Both were smart and had a way around almost any problem. Jack noticed that everyone liked to beat down Sun on how he wasn't as smart as the others. No one seemed to think Sun could do anything.
"Jack...it's not your problem to fight. You're a child." Sun's hand took a gentle hold on Jack's faceplate, assessing the damage still. "You are dealing with your own issues."
The Halloween moon model searched Sun's face for answers.
Sun let his hand fall, "How are you dealing with your nightmares without your father?"
"I don't know how you do it." He pulled the covers tight around him. "Live with this...guilt."
"I don't...." Sun looked away, hugging himself a little. "I just hold onto the family I have left and continue moving forward."
Jack looked at him, really looked at him. "Am I...a part of it?"
Sun nods, "Of course. You're my little nephew." He ruffled the nightcap.
He offered up a smile up at Sun. "So, can I use that method too? Hang out with you and Dazzle and Moon more?"
"Yep. If you think it'll help. And if it doesn't, well, I'll help look for something else that might work for you."
Sun and Jack sat there, smiling at each other.
"Sun?"
The older animatronic hummed.
"Thank you...for everything. Coming here when I was feeling down. For helping me not kill that man. For being my uncle."
Sun dragged him into a hug, "Don't say that. I'll always be there for you." Jack hugged him back.
"Thank you." He nuzzled Sun's chest.
"Tomorrow, we'll play together with Dazzle. Does that sound good?"
Jack nodded, still clinging to Sun.
"Alright. Alright. That's what we'll do." He squeezed him just a bit more before leaning away a bit.
Sun helped Jack settle back down on the bed, trucking him back under, again, and making sure that the Foxy plushie was also under his chin. Once laid down, Jack glanced up at Sun. This was the Sun he remembered from before moving here. Before he lost Nexus. Before Sun lost himself. Jack liked this Sun. Sun sat back down on the edge of the bed with his hands in his lap.
"But it's bedtime right now. You should probably get some rest."
"Wait!" He grabbed Sun's arm when he attempted to get up. "Could you stay...until I fall asleep?"
Sun's smile seemed real this time. "Of course. I can stay."
Jack nodded, settling down once again. He hugged his plushie to his chest and stayed close to Sun's side. He hesitantly reached an arm out to grip onto Sun's pants. He closed his eyes and told himself to go into rest mode. As he tried to sleep, Sun's hand kept rubbing soothing circles on his back. He shuffled closer until he was pressed firmly against Sun. Jack sighed. He felt more at home now, loved and cared for. Sun being his uncle and not his guardian. It felt nice. Having Sun act like he was precious to him and nothing else in the world matter. His own father didn't drop what he was doing to come see him, but Sun made sure he was still loved.
There they were. Sun calmly sitting on the edge of the bed with his legs crossed over each other and his hand laying on Jack's back, bringing him closer into his side. His voice barely a whisper as he hummed the Daycare Theme song from so long ago as it had played on a loop that now it popped up whenever his mind was clear. And Jack? Well, he was sleeping peacefully curled up near Sun with his hand still gripping onto the pants of Sun's in a tight grasp. He didn't want to let this go. But he knew that in the morning, Sun will still be there. Probably making breakfast. Hopefully something with sponges.
No matter what he still had family here. Moon, Molten, Dazzle, and even Sun. They all were his family even when his father was off 'protecting' them from this Overseer. Jack just hoped that Solar saw what was happening to all of them before it was too late.