Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Working at a fish stall is about as entertaining as watching paint dry, in Eclipse’s opinion. For the most part, he sits there watching a couple random humans stare at dead fish eyes until a mental connection is built enough for them to decide to buy the smell sea creature. At Ruin and his boss’s request, he doesn’t tell as many people to “hurry the fuck up” anymore, but the temptation is always there. It’s telling that Ruin prefers to nap underneath the stall, curled around Eclipse’s feet. He isn’t sure what’s so much better about napping under the stall, compared to napping on his nice, comfy blanket nest at home, but he admits, begrudgingly, that the company is nice.

However, a recent change in their routine has been the pups choosing to accompany them during market days. With the job being mostly just sitting there and waiting (as well as trying not to scare away potential customers with his sour expression), it’s fairly easy for Eclipse and Ruin to keep an eye on their children during the workday. Sometimes, they decide to stay home instead, but it isn’t uncommon for one or two to join them when work calls.

Particularly their youngest pup, Loon, only a few months hatched. He still retains the usual clingy nature of baby mers, so attempting to detach him from either Ruin or Eclipse when he wants to latch on is a foolish endeavor. As it stands, the tiny spotted pancake is content to lay in Eclipse’s lap as a ball and snooze the afternoon away, so neither of them is too bothered by this. After all, stall days are rather boring and quiet.

That is… until the Karens of the market happen to show up.

"I can't believe this! Is this what you call customer service?"

Eclipse holds back the urge to roll his eyes as this woman's shrill voice assaults his audio processors. He doesn't even understand what she's upset about. He just asked what fish she wants when she said she was ready to buy.

The woman, some lady with short brown hair and sharp, annoyed blue eyes, continues her rant, pointing a manicured finger at Eclipse. "I have been shopping here for years and you don't even know my order? What kind of shop owner doesn't keep track of his regulars' orders?"

Is that really what she's upset about? The fact he asked what she wanted? Eclipse actually does make an irritated huff at that. He will never understand some humans and their thought processes. The woman’s face screws up in disgust, perhaps from his clear disregard for her complaint. However, she still refuses to actually point out a fish she wants. Eclipse may be a robot, but he’s no mind reader.

Just as he's about to speak up to tell the woman to give him her order or fuck off, though, he feels a shift in his lap. The tiny ball, sleeping rather cozily beforehand, unfurls with a growl and suddenly leaps . There is a flash of blue with yellow spots flying through the air before sense returns to Eclipse. He thanks whatever powers that be for his fast reflexes because Loon was halfway to the Karen's face before he managed to grab him, caging the angry pancake in a gentle, but secure grip of his two hands. His urgency to do so nearly knocks over the stall as he bumps it with his legs – thankfully, it remains standing, though the sight of the woman covered in fishy water would have been entertaining.

Loon cries out in annoyance at the prison he finds himself in. Thoughtless, he waves his stumpy arm at Eclipse’s fingers in an attempt to escape, but it proves rather ineffective. The hisses and growls sounding from Loon mix with the Karen's startled gasp... before her noises turn to that of outrage.

"How... HOW DARE YOU!" she screeches, alerting other humans at the market to this situation. Several turn to watch the commotion. Eclipse instinctively pulls Loon closer to his chest, making sure any wrath she exacts is aimed solely at himself instead, and also trying to shield him from the view of others. However, the woman settles for a much more terrifying method to make her displeasure clear. "Owning a mer as a pet is illegal! You think you're above the law just because you're a robot! I will fix that ! You'll never see that mer again once I'm done with you!"

Eclipse freezes. In his hands, Loon continues to fight, now trying to swipe with his fully intact arm at the lady. He is doing his best to protect him from her anger (and in turn protect this ungrateful bitch from Loon's), but her words seem to make his machinery stop like a heart skipping a beat.

"Once I report this, you'll have your rights revoked and that little... creature will be removed from your lacking care at once! You should have thought twice before siccing such a thing at me in broad daylight! You'll have nothing left once I'm done with-"

Suddenly, the Karen falls silent. Eclipse glances to his left to see that Ruin has now crawled out from under the booth and is giving a very wide smile to this customer - though none of it reaches his eyes.

His voice comes out with feigned politeness. "That 'creature' is my pup, miss. Not a pet. And this robot is my mate. You will not be taking our child nor doing any of the other things you've threatened." His lips pull higher, causing his teeth to flash in the sunlight. Despite the casual way he props up his head on one hand, the other hand stands poised on the stall, displaying sharp claws only a couple feet away from her body. "I'd like to see you try~."

The stall finally falls silent as the woman quickly flees the scene. You never threaten a mer's mate or their pup. Sticking around was a disaster waiting to happen and she at least had the presence of mind to figure that out.

Still, Eclipse can't relax. He feels his body shake, the little hand cage for Loon (who is still hissing and trying to escape to pursue the lady) rattles against itself. It is only when Ruin's cool hands fall onto his that he unconsciously relents and lets Loon free - though Ruin is quick to hold him in place lest he continue to make a scene.

As the pup cries out in righteous fury, Ruin gently mlems his face. "Now now, little one. Dad looks rather upset, don't you think? Shouldn't you try to make him feel better? We don't want Dad to be sad!"

Huffing, Loon looks at Ruin with a glare, but reluctantly turns to Eclipse, who sits there as if a statue. The pup heeds his pa's words and scurries up Eclipse's chest, hugging his flat face and mleming against his cheeks. A soft rumbling purr reverberates through his flat body. This action eventually breaks Eclipse from his stupor. Carefully, he brings his hand up to pet Loon’s tiny head, the baby responding in kind with happy cheeps and faster purrs. Eclipse sighs, closing his eyes and letting the sounds soothe his nerves.

Loon is fine... Loon is safe in his arms, away from that woman. Her words still echo in his mind, but for now, he can relax with his family by his side...

Chapter Text

As the shock started to wear down, only then did the panic begin to emerge within Eclipse's mind. He could feel it as it lurked beneath the thin veil of his self control brushing against his mind like ice cold fingers, a soft chilling echo in his mind whispering the words said by that woman on repeat over and over.

You'll never see that mer again once I'm done with you!

As Eclipse continued to spiral, he could distantly hear Ruin as the mer huffed and thumped his tail against the floor in clear displeasure.

"Honestly the nerve of that woman! Can you imagine being so bold as to threaten a pup in front of their parents? Absolutely-"

The mer trailed off once he turned to face his robotic partner. Despite Eclipse's best efforts to hide it, it was clear Ruin could see his distress as the mer's expression shifted from confused to worried, and in an instant he was by Eclipse's side.

"Eclipse? My dear, are you alright?"

Eclipse didn't reply. He dared not to, knowing his voicebox would betray his inner turmoil with garbled static instead of coherant words. And even as Loon continued to hug his face and mlem his rays, it was not enough to stay the anxiety as it rose like a tidal wave, crashing against his emotional walls as they begun to crack, panic seeping through into his mind like poison. The dark orange animatronic released a rattled vent as the first sharp pang struck his chest, and his fans seized and juttered. 

Fuck.

Eclipse gripped the table, claws digging into the wood. Loon seemed to realise something was wrong as the little pup cheeped at him, his single hand bapping his forehead. Eclipse shakes his head, no no he's fine he's fine it's nothing he's fine-

Ruin let out a small chuff, and Eclipse felt a webbed hand very gently cup his face making him flinch as the mer carefully guided his face toward him meeting a pair of mismatched eyes from behind the little fins of Loon that still wrapped valiantly around his head.

"Dear," Ruin said softly, running a thumb over Eclipse's cheek, "you are clearly not fine. You are having a panic attack."

Eclipse stared, unable to stop another hitch of his vents. He.. he hadn't realised he'd been saying those words outloud.

Ruin continued, "let us go somewhere else, hm? Somewhere quieter."

He feels a gentle tug on his hand and Eclipse numbly realises that Ruin had slipped his other hand into it at some point without him noticing. The storm continued to rage in his mind, but Eclipse forced himself to keep it contained as Ruin helped him onto his shaky feet. Loon shifted himself on Eclipse's head, clambering up to settle on top instead of covering his face, reaching his single arm down to pat at the space between the animatronics eyes. His own little way of telling his dad he's still there.

"Excuse me miss!" Ruin suddenly speaks up and Eclipse jolts having not realised he was zoning out. He realises Ruin is talking to a human girl and it takes him a moment to remember who she is. Short orange hair, above average height, wearing a tank top with a shark printed on the front and has a tattoo of some kind of seabird on her upper left arm. Can't remember her name, but Eclipse knew she was a co-worker. Usually worked out back sorting the fish crates.

So focused he was on recalling the girl, Eclipse didn't realise Ruin had been talking to her. She was looking at Ruin but her gaze switched between the navy coloured mer and Eclipse a look of sympathy on her expression. Normally Eclipse would have scoffed or snarled at the sight of being pitied at but currently his mind was still stuck in panicked turmoil. He looked away instead.

Another sharp pang shot through his chest and his eyes widened as Eclipse briefly forgot where Loon was, realising he wasn't over his face like before. He shot a hand up to his face, only to feel a tiny webbed hand grip his finger and tiny teeth knaw on the casing before mleming it. The typical but overwhelmingly familiar pattern of Loon making his presence known.

Another hitch fell from Eclipse's vents that left him wanting to shrivel up on the floor from embarressment once he realised his action did not go unnoticed. He may have very well done if it wern't for Ruin still holding his hand, keeping him upright. The mer gave his hand a gentle reassuring squeeze.

"Yeah it's not a problem, I can man the stand easy enough" the red haired girl said, continuing the brief conversation with Ruin that Eclipse had not been tuned in to before. "I saw the whole thing with that karen. She was a real bitch."

Ruin huffed, a small growl lacing his words. "That she was. For her sake, i sure hope not to see her likes about this place again." He muttered darkly, his head frills flaring a little.

"Ugh yeah nah I doubt it. Not when the boss hears about it." The girl flapped her hand, "anyway, you go and get him home safe and sound, yeah? I'll let the big man know what's up and all."

Ruin gave her a grateful smile. "Thankyou my dear. Come along Eclipse, Loon. Let's head home, yes?"

The little pancake pup let out a chirrup from the top of his dad's head and Eclipse himself let out a shaky huff, still not trusting himself to speak. Ruin guided them further behind the stall and through the door that led to the chilled storage room. They walked past the crates of fish where they were lined up against the wall and the animatronic had half a mind to reach up and hover a shaky hand over loon lest the little pup got it into his little fishy brain to diving into them. Thankfully however Loon seemed to be quite content remaining fixed to the top of Eclipse's disc shaped head, his fins gripping tightly around the two rays that were still partially poked out between him.

Once they reached the exit door Ruin pushed it open with a small grunt, the squeaky hinges causing Eclipse to twitch before the three of them were exposed to the cool salty sea air. The evening autumn sun was low in the sky, golden light washing over the robot and two mers soaking them in its warm amber glow.

But it was not enough to stay the sudden wave of anxiety as it crashed full force into Eclipse's mind, causing the robot's legs to buckle beneath him. Now that he was away from prying eyes, with only his partner and child to witness him crumble, Eclipse's walls finally broke and he let out a loud shuddering gasp that quickly developed into hyperventilation.

"Oh Eclipse.." he could barely make out Ruin's voice as the mer carefully settled Eclipse down by the wall. Eclipse shuddered, clutching his chest as a sickening pang of anxiety shot through him. His rays began to twitch and jutter from within his disc, and despite his panic Eclipse had enough sense to reach up and tug Loon off his head before the pup could get poked by his erratic rays. Thankfully the little mer came free without a fuss but immedietely clung to his hand chirruping and purring as he nuzzled against his dad's palm.

Eclipse let out a broken glitched sob as he curled around Loon, drawing his legs up. Ruin cheeped and coiled himself around Eclipse, pressing his forehead to Eclipse's own whilst muttering soft reassurances in both english and his own tongue that Eclipse had long since learned to understand after many days of practicing with Ruin. They helped to drown out the echoed screaming words of that banshee of a woman that continued to haunt his mind.

"Hush. I'm here, we're here. You're alright dear. No one is going to take our child. It's going to be ok." Ruin murmered softly, gently nuzzling Eclipse and stroking his cheeks with his thumbs from where his hands carefully held the sides of his head, keeping their foreheads pressed together.

Another hitch escaped Eclipse's vents, but he closed his eyes and forced himself to focus on the feeling of Ruin pressed against him, his words of reassurance and the feeling of Loon as the little pup purred against his chest and mlemed his fingers. After a while of sitting there together, Eclipse finally felt himself beginning to calm down. The panic slowly receded from his mind, taking with it the distant echos of the womans threats. Though he could still feel it lurking in the back of his mind, Eclipse now had it back under control. He let out a sigh, putting back up whatever remained of his shattered walls as he pulled himself away from Ruin.

The mer watched him carefully as Eclipse leaned back releasing a shaky sigh from his vents, still keeping Loon held securely against his chest. He ran a thumb over the spotted scales as Loon cheeped curiously up at him.
"Are you alright now dear?" Ruin asked softly.

Eclipse didn't reply immedietely, needing to take a moment to recalibrate his voicebox since it had glitched out during his panic attack. It took only a few seconds and once it was done he let out the biggest and most exasperated groan, throwing a free arm over his eyes. The sun had since gotten lower but it was still too bright and he was beginning to feel the start of a killer headache forming.

"Fucking peachy."

Ruin huffed a small mirthless laugh, as he shifted closer and mlemed Eclipse's cheek. "Do you feel ok enough to stand?" The mer asked, "would be best if we made our way back home now, yes?"

"Give.. give me a minute Ru," Eclipse sighed tiredly, dropping his arm from his eyes and instead wrapping it around Ruin, while the other hand continued to stroke Loon. "I'm still... recalibrating." He settled on, deciding not to mention the fact that his legs felt like strings of jelly. The mer cheeped and pressed his head against Eclipse with a purr. 

"Take your time dear. I can help you walk if needed. I am quite able to do that today so don't fret about that either."

Eclipse rolled his eyes. But before he could respond, suddenly the phone in his pocket which he had completely forgotten about started ringing, startling Eclipse and the two mers with him. Loon hissed and flared his fins but Eclipse pressed him back against his chest before the little pancake tyke could pounce on the device as he weasled it out of his pocket. Ignoring the annoyed squeaks of his child, Eclipse brought the phone out and held it before him.

However the anxiety that lurked in the back of his mind briefly flared again sending a small shooting pang through his chest causing Eclipse to freeze, his mind suddenly jumping to the worst case. What if this was the police calling him? What if the woman had called authorities and they were calling him to tell him Loon would be taken away and Eclipse his rights revoked and-

"Let me answer it sweetheart." Ruin said, breaking Eclipse from his spiralled thoughts as the mer gently plucked the device from the robots hand. Eclipse's fingers twitched but he made no attempt to take it back, instead letting it fall onto his lap, watching as Ruin turned the phone over in his hands before hitting the answer call button.

"Speaking?" Ruin asked politely.

A gruff but familiar voice crackled from the speaker. "Bobby. Is Eclipse there Ruin? He ain't in trouble, but i got word some trouble went down and I wanna know if he's doing alright."

Eclipse felt another brief wave of panic but it died down as soon as his boss mentioned he wasn't in trouble. Ruin glanced over to Eclipse with a sympathetic look as he replied.

"Yes he's with me. Not doing the best i'm afraid, but he is stable, for now at least. I'm taking him home as we speak."

The old man grunted on the other side of the phone, and Eclipse could hear the creak of his chair as he moved. "Alright. Is he alright if i talk to him for a sec? Won't take long."

Ruin looked to Eclipse again with an eyebrow raised, an unspoken question in his eyes. Eclipse sighed, and reached out with his hand. Ruin placed the phone onto his palm, and Eclipse drew it back to hold before his face.

"Yeah?" 

He hated the way his voice sounded so croaky, but his boss didn't comment on it, instead jumping straight to the point and asking "you alright son?"

Eclipse huffed a bemused laugh. It was difficult to not retort with an automatic snappish response of 'do i sound fucking ok?' but he managed to grind out a simple "no."

Bobby clicked his tongue. "Yeah figured as much. Now listen, i'm gonna tell you right now you got nothing to worry about. I heard about what that woman said to ya', Katherine gave me the whole thing and I confirmed it on the cameras. She's on the blacklist so she won't be coming back again."

Eclipse blinked. Oh so that was the red haired girls name-

Bobby continued, "that lady was talkin' shit too by the way. There ain't no way anyones gonna come for your partner or your kid, definitely not in this town. She could land herself in real trouble trying to take a pup from it's parents afterall."

Eclipse pressed Loon a little closer to himself, recalling the vague threat Ruin gave the woman, teeth and claws on full display. "Yeah.."

"Alright son. You get yourself home and rested, yeah? Take tomorrow off if you need it too, i got folk who can cover ya. You'll get yer' paid leave and all too, just let me know beforehand if you can."

Eclipse nodded despite his boss not being able to see it. "Sure. Thankyou." he added on quietely.

"Don't worry about it. Take care of yourself now."

And with that Bobby hung up. Eclipse let out a long sigh as he dropped his arm with the phone still in hand, relief blooming in his chest and the tension in his mind finally starting to ease up more. Only he immedietely had to jerk his hand back up again when Loon made a sudden mad dash for the device in his hand.

Eclipse grumbled a curse as he shoved the device quickly back into his pocket, holding Loon back as he did so. "Stop that!"

Loon growled and swatted in the direction of the pocket as Eclipse scooped him further away. Ruin chuckled, leaning in to nuzzle Loon affectionately which helped cease his gremlin behaviour before looking up at Eclipse with a soft look.

"Shall we head on home then?" 

Eclipse sighed. "Yeah. I think i can stand now."

Ruin grinned, and he shifted himself next to Eclipse who allowed Ruin to manouver his arm around the mers shoulders before helping him stand to his feet. The animatronic stumbled only a little before he regained his balance. Ruin kept his hand wrapped around his though, giving Eclipse's hand a small squeeze which the animatronic returned while Loon scrambled up onto his shoulder and then back to his perch on top of Eclipse's head, sitting quite proudly between his rays.

With that and a gentle tug from his partner, Eclipse allowed Ruin to lead them back home.