Posting this here, too.
Security Blankets are for kids, right...?
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You were nervous.
You had been invited by Sun and Moon to finally have a little sleepover with them, but while you were packing your overnight bag, you began to feel that pit form in your stomach as you grabbed your blanket. You ran your fingers over the frayed edges of the fabric.
How would they react? Would they tease you like so many others have?
You swallowed thickly and folded the blanket neatly, then shoved it to the bottom of your bag, hiding it beneath your clothes and toiletries. You finished packing and zipped up the bag, making sure you grabbed a couple of snacks before heading out, making sure to lock the door behind you.
A short drive later and you were pulling up to the Pizzaplex, the place of your employment and where you would be spending the night. You made your way to the employee lot and parked, squealing and waving your hands around as you opened the back seat to grab your bag. Your anxieties disappeared as you thought about how much fun you were going to have, especially since you’d be having all that fun with your crushes, the dual AI of Sun and Moon, the daycare animatronic.
You locked your car before running to the building, giggling with a massive grin as you burst in through the employee entrance. You were almost immediately scooped up into a hug by the large animatronic attendant himself, Sun’s rays spinning along with the two of you as you both laughed.
“Are ya ready for a night full of fun?” He asked once he stopped spinning, and you nodded once the dizziness wore off. Without words needed he began to carry you to the daycare, where your night of fun and shenanigans began.
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It was 12:50 in the morning, and for the past few hours Moon had been screaming at you and Sun in their headspace that you needed sleep. You had kept putting it off, but it was the first power cycle of the night, and now Moon was out and forcibly putting you to bed. He had brought you up to he and Sun’s room, and was set on making you get settled into bed in a quick manner.
You frowned slightly as he tucked you in, holding in the comment you had about not being a kid when you realized what you didn’t have. You lay there for quite some time, and the lights outside their room went through another power cycle before you sighed, sitting up. Moon was patrolling the building currently, so you could safely get your blanket while he was away.
You fumbled around the room for a bit before you found your bag, and while digging through your things you heard the rustle of the heavy red curtain separating their balcony from the daycare moving.
“Starlight, what are you doing out of bed?”
Moon asked, and you sighed as your fingers brushed the worn blanket at the bottom of your bag. You grabbed the blanket and pulled it out, squeezing it tightly to your chest before Moon could see anything. You made your way back to the bed as you thought of a reply. “I… couldn’t sleep.”
“And why not?” Moon questioned, sitting on the bed criss-cross. When you reached the edge of the bed he grabbed you, lifting you up and setting you in his lap. He immediately took notice of the fabric in your arms, and gently ran his fingers over it. “Was it because of this?”
You sighed, leaning against him as you unfolded the blanket. “Yeah… I’m unable to sleep without it. It’s stupid, I know- an adult with a security blanket? Heh…” You joked, but the joke fell flat as you felt anxiety coil in your stomach.
Moon hummed in thought for a moment, one hand beginning to card his fingers through your hair while the other traced over the patterns on the blanket with reverence. “It’s not stupid, Firefly. Actually, studies show that 30-40% of adults have security blankets, and that it’s beneficial to mental health. So are stuffed animals.” His voice was soft as he spoke, sounding like he recited some of the information from a website, but not exactly.
You grumbled, rolling the blanket into a ball and hugging it to your chest. “Doesn’t make me any less self conscious about it…” You muttered, and Moon shifted so his arms were around your waist loosely.
“You shouldn’t feel like that though, it’s perfectly normal. Besides, we’re not judging you. In fact, Sunny thinks it’s kinda cute.” Moon soothed as he began to rock side to side, moving you with him. Your face flushed just slightly, and you buried your face in the blanket, inhaling deeply and smelling the familiar scent of your home mixed with laundry detergent.
When you didn’t say anything, Moon spoke up again. “We will never judge you on anything, Firefly. You can trust us.” You smiled, your eyelids starting to droop as the rocking motion combined with the comfort your blanket provided lulling you into slumberland.
You fell asleep in Moon’s lap, with him humming the song ‘You Are My Sunshine’ as you drifted off.
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When you woke up in the morning, Sun’s face was near yours, but he was staring at your arms- right where you held your blanket tightly.
“Good morning, Sun.” You said softly, yawning as you tried to subtly hide the blanket. Sun wasn’t having it, pulling you up and out of the covers right into his lap, where he began to inspect your blanket in all its worn glory.
“You don’t need to hide things like this from us, Sunshine. Moony told you we don’t judge, and this is certainly something that isn’t judge-worthy.” He said, thumbing the loose threads before carefully putting the blanket back in your arms. “There’s nothing wrong with needing security and comfort to sleep. It’s quite cute, really.”
His words made you smile, and tears bubbled up to the surface. You turned in his lap to face him, putting your blanket across your shoulders before hugging him tightly. “Thank you… both of you. It means a lot to me to hear you say that.”
Sun hummed, hugging you as well and rubbing your back.
“Anything for you, Sunshine.”
