Chapter Text
“What is it you wish to show me, Moon?” Killcode’s voice spoke as the beast leaned forward, staring down the eyes of an old, familiar friend.
Moondrop opened his mouth to speak, though didn’t as he’d sigh. How was he going to explain this?
Having Killcode back was already a strange thing. Killcode was dead for a year, maybe more, maybe less. They’d just gotten done with Nexus, but then the world began to shake. Sun knew something was off, Lunar did too, and yet; Nothing could’ve prepared them for what happened.
Eclipse was still ticked off, Ruin’s thoughts and concerns unraveling, leaving the others to try and count the ones still living. To try and understand, grappling at something unknown to any of them. It hadn’t been that long, and yet, despite Killcode being alive then, another situation came to be. Another instance they couldn’t have predicted.
Solar Flare’s revival.
An animatronic who once knew Killcode, though built by another. An animatronic who’d given their life to stop Eclipse.
Someone who was now an empty shell of the one they were before.
Solar Flare didn’t remember anything at first. Not really. Waking, they were startled by Moondrop, swiftly slashing at him as if it were reflex.
Moondrop couldn't calm it down, leaving Earth to stand between the two to try instead. Her voice was soft as she’d spoken, attempting to reassure the tall bot that they were alright, and that none of them meant any harm.
Words were exchanged, Flare taking the lady’s metal hand and following her as she led it carefully through the fallen pizzaplex, guiding him from rubble and broken walls and lights, Moondrop following along more warily.
She mentioned that she’d heard of them before, though even her own memories were a bit fuzzy as of the past week. Gathering herself and trying to calm others after all the violent shaking and colliding, it’d been hard keeping things straight. Especially when a beam had come down, hitting her head and leaving her to be injured. She was going to be repaired - someone named Monty had insisted they’d do it, to fix her head and help make sure she was okay.
Solar Flare thought that Monty sounded like a decent person, following with slight curiosity gazing through his hesitant and uncertain eyes.
Earth was nice from what they saw. She seemed like a sweetheart.
Flare was led, then, to ‘Parts and Service’. There was vague recognition, a hint of deja vu, as if they’d been there before, though not recalling how or what for.
Someone named Ruin was there, with a little girl named Charlie. The poor child was scared, and Flare didn’t know what to say.
Ruin had helped Moon to access Flare’s systems when Flare finally gave them permission. It’d taken more than twenty minutes, but the bot had caved in when Earth offered to stay in the strange cylinder with them, if only to comfort them. Flare didn’t know Moon, Charlie, or Ruin. Or did they? It didn’t know. Moon was at least familiar, though Solar Flare felt wary of him for a strange reason. A reason they swear could’ve been on the tip of their metaphorical tongue, but never identified.
At the end of it all, Flare’s memories were near gone. Very, very few ever remained, with faint recognition of feelings towards others, but never full memories of them.
Flare did not take it well, but the young child seemed to know what to do, running up to the bot and hugging them, saying how she felt scared to, but it’d be okay.
.. Charlie was a good kid.
Flare felt she was, hugging back partway as its eyes trembled, thoughts running through their head as a pit of turmoil fell into their stomach.
What were they?
What’s their purpose?
Were they a good person, or a bad one? Why did Moon look at him blankly, when they’d first woken up?
Is this even their body?
Who were they before? Why are they here? Why was everything starting to hurt painfully?
…
And a week in DJ Music Man’s room led up to this moment.
Moondrop knew he couldn’t hide Solar Flare any longer. Not from Killcode. Charlie had nearly spilled about him twice, Ruin pushed the annoyed moon model to tell, and Earth insisted it’d be right, having heard Moon explain how Killcode might’ve been close to Solar Flare at a point in time.
.. He deserved to know.
“.. There is someone I'd like you to- meet,” Moon’s words were carefully spoken, Killcode could tell. Who could this be about? Who was it? Should he be wary of this ‘someone’ Moondrop spoke of?
He didn’t think so. Moon’s voice was more.. Uncertain, like he didn’t know how Killcode would take it.
And Killcode would soon learn why.
Moondrop awkwardly led the twenty foot nightmare down halls, and into an unfamiliar room. Killcode knows it to be DJ Music Man’s, but he’d never gone much into it before. He never had much reason to.
He was curious but confused, following Moondrop further into the large room, pausing as the shorter motioned for him to stop.
Why?
Moondrop turned to the DJ booth, the taller squinting eyes as he’d swear he saw the tip of some rusty metal behind the rubble beside it.
Who-?
“Hey, uh- Can you come out from behind the rubble?” Moondrop called over, hands cupping his mouth as he did.
Who was he talking to-
Killcode’s eyes widened with recognition, facing a familiar old face matching the one of the friend he once had.
Solar Flare.
Moon spared a glance at Killcode, a soft sigh escaping his mouth as he’d turn back to Flare.
This wasn’t going to be easy on KC..
“Solar Flare, this is Killcode.”
What? Why was Moon introducing Killcode to it? Of course Flare knew who he was! They-
“It’s nice to meet you, Killcode..” The taller’s heart sank as he’d stared at the bot before him.
Surely- this was a joke, right? That isn’t right. Flare was a friend. He is a friend.
Of course Flare would remember Killcode. Why wouldn’t they?
Unless the blast from Eclipse’s death back then-
I’m sorry, KC,” Moon’s whisper snapped the taller back to reality, the nightmare’s gaze switching between Moon and Solar Flare, who only looked at him with uncertainty.
But, there was a flicker of familiarity in that gaze, wasn’t there? Killcode faintly saw it, but didn’t let his heart hope for too long as Moon spoke up, his voice going back to its usual volume as it tried to explain the one before them both.
“Solar Flare kinda lost their memories. We’re not sure if it’s from the- whatever we want to call it. Worlds colliding?? We don’t know if it’s from that, or something else. I think it feels some sort of deja vu, but even it doesn’t know.”
..
Killcode didn’t know whether to talk, or to cry. Maybe both.
He wasn’t an emotional one. Not like that.
But here he is, feeling horrible as he stares into the eyes of a friend. Someone who doesn’t know a single thing about him. Someone who has no memories of the past, and might not ever again.
Should he yell? Whisper? What would he say?
Should he even try?
.. Killcode’s metal heart strained, staring down at Flare with fists clenched by his sides.
But in the end, he exhaled, fists releasing from their position as they’d instead wrap around the confused bot in front of him. He nearly broke when the bot gently patted his arms, tilting its head with a confused but welcoming gaze.
I missed you, Solar Flare. He wanted to say it. He really did. It was there, standing right in front of him. Someone he’d spent time with before. A friend of his. Maybe their friendship was timed with an unlikely end back then, but it didn’t have to be now.
So instead, rather than words of missing them, a choked voice simply said, “I hope to befriend you, Solar Flare.”
And it was the truth.
Solar Flare nodded, his eyes lighting up in the old fashion they did previously, as he’d respond back. “I hope to befriend you as well, Killcode.”
.. They could be friends again.
Killcode could have a friend. Maybe not the one he knew before. Maybe this wasn’t them- who they used to be. Not anymore. But, Killcode, just this once, wanted to be selfish. To befriend Flare and protect it before anyone else could.
Killcode wanted to protect his friend. Even if they weren’t the same as before. Even if they’ll be bound to act differently, maybe even like different things; He wanted to be there.
He wanted to be selfish, wanting to be Flare’s closest friend. To be the one there when they were confused, or didn’t understand something.
Killcode wasn’t going to let Solar Flare die.
Not now.
And he’d be more than willing to punt his ex-child if he tried anything.
As if Moondrop had heard his last thought, he snickered a little, leaving a confused head tilt from Flare as Killcode let them go. They didn’t stop hugging, he’d realized.
“Sorry,” Killcode grinned sheepishly, stepping back from Solar Flare, who only shook its head.
“It is fine, Killcode,” the bot reassured.
Killcode would have to tell Solar Flare eventually. He knew he would. The past won’t stay buried forever, now will it? Flare might not be Flare anymore, but the body is the same. The voice, the lit-up eyes, the reassurance it brung. It was all the same. A different person in another’s body, in a way. Killcode knows something like that. Moon did, too, no doubt.
He’d tell Flare when the colliding storm is done, and it’s returned to calmness. But for now, maybe just..
Comforting and playing games with this one would be enough. Something to greet them with. Maybe something new, for a new person.
Whatever Flare wanted to do, it was up to them. Their choice, for a new friendship.