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"Aren't you tired?"
Those were words that greeted Eclipse, when he approached Ruin in the theater. Leaning against the railing, looking down at the empty seats, he didn't need to turn to guess who was behind his back, he could recognize those footsteps everywhere, heavy, filled with anger, he knew those by heart.
"Tired of what." Eclipse decided to humor the animatronic this time, frankly he didn't want to waste time on him, but something stopped him from just walking away, was it the sight of miserable looking Ruin? Couldn't be he still hates that guy. Was Charlie's desire to help everyone getting to him?
"Of life–" Ruin's empty voice sent slight chills on his endoskeleton, it wasn't common to hear him sound so – depraved of emotion.
"– of everything."
"Ruin–" As soon as Eclipse started to speak, Ruin suddenly took a step away from the railing, he seemed to be in deep thought. That state quickly changed as he turned around to the orange animatronic, eyes wide open like he got caught doing something he shouldn't have.
"It was nice to see you, dear Eclipse but I'm afraid I have to go. I promised Ballora that I would help her." He forced an apologetic smile before quickly scurrying off to exit the room, he needed to leave, he knew he shouldn't have been keeping this inside of him, it will only tore him apart even more. Yet, everytime he looks at him his nonexistent heart aches. He had to find him a moment of weakness.
Despite everything that has met Ruin in his long life, he still yearns for closeness, he wanted to confess everything to someone who could understand him, someone who he longed for. He wanted to be loved and to love them, to show him how much he treasures them.
But he couldn't share this with him, he knew he wouldn't accept, Eclipse stated multiple time he isn't a fan of the mismatched animatronic. Ruin could only soothe his internal struggle, he found excuses to not disclose his feelings to the angry bot, after all last time he got close with someone and was happy, everything was ruined, and he could only blame himself.
He was tired of those feelings, tired of living for so long, tired of memories of friends he can't bring back. Those haunting memories of them, of their corruption.
He didn't notice when he stopped walking, Ruin was shaking, he felt a wet substance dripping from his eye sockets down the faceplace. He found himself in the back of the arcade area, no soul in sight. This place brings back yet another memory.
***
Eclipse was left alone in the theatre, looking in the distance where Ruin had walked off, trying to find an explanation for this gut wrenching feeling inside of him. Was he – worried about that amalgamated freak!? He scoffed with anger at himself, he refused to acknowledge his worry for him, the hollow feeling in his chest meant nothing. Yet Ruin's words stuck with him, he felt the ghosts of the past returning to torment him.
Was he tired?
.
.
.
He was.
He is.
He's sick of everything.
Why can't his life finally get a moment of peace, everytime they stop one problem another emerges from nowhere. He really wished sometimes it was over but he's needed. He feels wanted.
Eclipse's fists clench tight, almost tearing the metal because of his claws, the pain snaps him from the overflowing thoughts. Why did Ruin's question send him to an existential spiral? He can't answer that, everything comes back to him, why did he have to rebuild him. He should hate him, it's his fault that he even is reflecting on this question.
And yet even now just thinking about Ruin brings warmth to the hollow place in his chest.
Eclipse leaves the theater, he still has so much work to do.