You have nothing to fear if you have nothing to hide.
Sun was scared, to say the least. As Monty continued to question him, his breaths (albeit they were fake breaths) quicken.
Monty didn’t seem the least bit concerned for his panic and anxiety, only focusing on him being injured. He wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not, but all he knew was that there was no way Monty wouldn’t figure it out.
“Are you even listening to me? C’mon Sun, I’m not messing around. I want to help you.”
And at that, Sun froze. Because it couldn’t be true. Because nobody had ever wanted to help him. Not once, never. Not unless they wanted something in return. It was fake, it had to be. He had to be lying. Monty had to be lying because if he wasn’t, Sun wasn’t sure if he could keep up his act. And if that happened.. Well, he wouldn't be able to continue.
“What do you want from me?” He blurted out. He slowly pulled a hand from his rays- when had he begun pulling on them? And held it in front of his mouth. “I-” He didn’t know what to say. He made it all worse, didn’t he?
“What? No- no, Sun, listen to me.” Monty made a move to touch him but Sun flinched. “Sorry. Can I touch you?” he asked. Sun was at a loss for words. He just didn’t know what to say. Should he say yes? No? Monty asked, so he probably wanted to. “Y-yes..” he stuttered out.
Monty reached up to cup his hand on his cheek, lifting his face plate so that he was facing him. “Please Sun. I really, really only want to help. I won’t hurt you. I don’t want anything in return. I just want to help you. So please, Sunny, tell me. Who did this.”
He had asked before countless times. Only this time, ignoring the first parts, it wasn’t a question. It was a plea. Monty really wanted to help. He had to admit that the tension left his shoulders rather quickly after that.
“Please don’t tell. Don’t tell anyone, Monty. Not even the others.” He asked with vacant eyes- or at least they were even more vacant than before.
“I promise.”
…
There was a moment of silence. Sun hesitated- maybe this really was a trick. Or worse- maybe Moon was listening.
“Moon.”
He had said it so fast, so softly that Monty wasn’t sure he had caught it right- after all, why would Moon do it- like, he would hurt the others sure. But Sun? He thought they seemed thick as thieves, brothers even. But then again, that was the very, very few glimpses of the two that he had. Before this, all this.
“Who?” he asked, silently hoping he had heard it wrong. That Moon hadn’t hurt the poor robot.
“Moon. M-Moon did this.” he said, starting loud and clear, and ending quiet and meek.
“Oh god. Oh Sun, Moon did this? Oh gosh…” Monty said, not knowing what to say.
Suddenly Monty pulled Sun forward and wrapped his arms around him. A hug? Why? Oh well.. He quite enjoyed hugs, and it had been awhile since he got one. Anyone he had asked had either ignored him or voiced their annoyance. Which was fine! Not everyone was a hugger! He just missed them.
Moon never cared- Sun's love language, as he had called it, was physical affection and praise. And that he got! Moon seemed to have a never ending supply of complements and love for him- although he only showed it once the kids and workers were gone.
But ultimately, the never ending supply ran out. And that left Sun feeling terrible.
“Shh. It’s okay, Sun. Let it out, I won’t hurt you.” Monty had whispered into his auditory sensors. Sun hadn’t realized he was crying.
He let out a choked sob. Then another. And another. And before he knew it, Monty was cradling him in his arms while he wept aloud.
“You're safe, you're okay. He can’t hurt you now. You're safe.” And for a second the Sun believed him. But It couldn’t be true. It couldn’t. He was Sun, the annoying, loud, robot. Nothing more, nothing less.
“I’m- I’m sorry, Monty.” He spoke. “No, no none of that. Look at me, Sun. You are not to blame for any of this. I might not know the whole story, but I do know that you do not need to apologize for someone- for your brother to hurt you.”
It sounded so unreal. But for once in his life, he really, truly believed him. And he didn’t know why. Everything in his lanky, tall body had told him to run. That the gator was not to be trusted.
And suddenly, he was tired. So, so tired.
He focused on the gentle way Monty was rocking him. The soft, sweet nothings he was whispering into his ear. The way he rubbed his rays with just the right amount of pressure for it to make him even more sleepy.
Monty wouldn’t mind, would he? Of course he would.
No, he shouldn’t. It would be rude. But he was so tired.
And as if reading his mind, Monty spoke.
“Shh. Go to sleep Sun. It’s okay. I’ll be here when you fall asleep, and I’ll be here when you wake.”
It only took a few more minutes before finally, finally, Sun's eyes drifted shut.
---------------------------
It had been about two hours, he reckoned, when there was a familiar zipping noise.
Moon was on his wire, and coming quick. So Monty acted fast, hugging Sun close to his body as he crept into his green room. He locked the door and pulled the partition wall over so that they wouldn’t be seen.
“Mmm..” Sun began to stir in his arms, but he didn’t wake. Instead he nuzzled into his chest, warm in his arms.
…
And that, that was the moment that Monty realized that he was in love.