Foxy awoke from sleep in silence and darkness to more silence and darkness. He had no clue where he was, or where anyone else was, not that he particularly cared.
They always treated him like and outlier, as if he never truly belonged with them. He scared the kids, so he wasn't allowed to be on the stage.
He had his own attraction, for a time, but he was soon put out of order due to lack of popularity. Maybe it was better that way.
But he knew it was only a matter of time before he was scrapped. Perhaps that's where he was. He welcomed death, it was inevitable anyways.
That idea was pushed out of his mind when he heard a familiar voice, "Bonnie, Chica, where are you guys?"
It was Freddy. Foxy was quick to reply, "Well that tells me everything about how you feel about me, Freddy."
"Not the time for this, Foxy," Freddy replied with annoyance. "We need to find them."
"I-I'm here," Chica's quivering voice called. "Wh-where are we?"
"I don't know," Freddy stated. "I can see a little bit of light coming from that door over there, but I don't know if I can get up to get it. Foxy, are you over there?"
Foxy looked to his left, then to his right. "Yeah!" he called, before using the wall behind him as support to stand. He felt around for the doorknob, and jiggled it in a vain attempt to open it.
"Locked from the outside," he said.
"Fuck!" Freddy yelled. "Is there a light switch by the door?"
Foxy felt around, and flicked the switch he did find. The lights above stuttered to life, much to everyone's surprise. Bonnie was still up against the wall, asleep in the corner.
They noticed that they each had tears and rips in them, Bonnie and Chica were missing parts, and nothing was as they'd originally been.
They all took a moment to transform into their human forms. Foxy and Freddy just had tatters in their clothes, and were a bit dirty. Freddy had a bit of a bloody lip, but that was it. However, Chica has lost both of her hands, which shocked her.
"Well, I guess this is us now," Freddy stated. "I still don't know where we are, and there's no way out of this."
"Remember when they said that there was gonna be a new location?" Chica asked.
"Oh yeah... Maybe that's where we are. Question is, why aren't we in one piece, up on the stage?"
"Well, I don't know about you two, but I'm gonna keep trying to get out of this damn room," Foxy said. "I've been stuck in my own solitary for almost a decade of operation, I'm not about to stick out another decade without any outside contact."
He began to screw around with the lock, attempting some sort of picking method with his hook.
Chica looked at Freddy, unsure of where to go next.
"What do we do if he does manage to get it open?" she asked.
"I'm not sure," the brunette replied, "but we need to wake Bonnie, first."
"No!" Foxy exclaimed. "Bitch needs to stay asleep while I focus. The last thing I need to hear is his nasally voice telling me I'm doing it wrong."
"Foxy, his fucking arm is missing," Freddy argued.
"Again, ideal situation would be him being quiet while I work with this. No clue when I'll be able to get it ope—"
The door clicked, and it opened before Foxy's eyes. He mumbled something, as he'd hoped that they wouldn't have a need to wake up Bonnie soon, but that wasn't about to be the case. He took his leave at that moment, going to explore the place.
The walls had the classic checkered pattern that'd been on the walls of the last pizzeria, but instead of a nice red colour in places, it was all a weird grey colour. He'd never really liked those parts of the last location.
He walked by an open doorway, but stopped to check it again, having heard a weird radio static. It weirded him out. What he saw was a broken animatronic, a white and pink fox from what he could make out.
"Help... me..." it tried to communicate through the static.
Seeing it like this tore him apart. He knelt down next to it, and asked, "Who did this to you?"
He got no answer. It just looked at him, and he could tell there was worry in its face. He noticed the tools on the wall next to the security camera, and got up to grab them.
He couldn't watch another animatronic suffer like this, whether they had true feelings or not. But then again, it didn't even know he was also an animatronic, he was still a human. That would be a weird conversation when it came to it.
He was no mechanic, but he had to fix himself enough times, he imagined it wouldn't be that much harder.
Though, he was a bit wrong in that realm. It took him about an hour of trying to figure it out. This new animatronic design was quite different from those of him and his co-workers. But at last, the work was done. He did his best to reconstruct it in such a way that it wouldn't be broken again. At least, he hoped.
"There," he said at last, "all fixed up. Hope that feels better."
"Y-yeah," it stuttered in reply.
There was a sudden white flash that startled Foxy at first. He shielded his eyes, and eventually tried to push through it. By the time his eyes finally adjusted again, there was no longer an animatronic, but a girl.
She was gorgeous, in Foxy's eyes. The way her white hair fell over her left eye just so, the way her remaining yellow eye seemed to pierce his soul. He was taken aback by it, this sort of attraction having never found its way into his heart before.
"Th-thank you so much," she said to him. "I know it may be weird to take in, but I trust you enough to share the secret. We animatronics can be humans."
"Heh that's kinda funny," Foxy stated. "Because I'm an animatronic that can turn human, too."
She looked at him, unamused, and said "Yeah, sure."
"No, I'm being for real."
He proved it, focusing his energy on becoming an animatronic again. The way that she looked at him broke his heart. He'd seen it so many times before; it was disgust. He could tell his face had fallen as he flashed back to human.
He began towards the door, just wanting to go back into hibernation in the back room. She placed her hand on his shoulder, making him stop in his tracks.
"Wh-where are you going?" she asked.
"Back to where I came from. I already fucked up a friendship with you by showing you that form, last thing I need is a reminder of that," he answered.
"Look, that face I made was because of the state your animatronic form is in, I didn't like it. I don't think someone with as kind a heart as yours deserves to have that many rips and tears in their body."
"Still, I feel like I should go before I say something that makes you hate me like everyone else does."
"Who do you mean "everyone else?" This is the first time I've seen you, and the only "everyone else" I know are my friends Bonnie, Chica, and Freddy."
"Odd, I know three people named Bonnie, Chica, and Freddy too... what's your name?"
"I don't know what they used to call me, but ever side the mechanics decided it wasn't worth it to put me back together, I earned the nickname Mangle. It's just sorta stuck, I don't mind it."
"There's no way we know three different people with the same names."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
Foxy sighed. "I'm not gonna get anywhere by telling you this, but the three I know were all beaten up and in the back room with me. They hate me, just because I was always different. I never did anything to them, at least that I know of, but they still isolate me."
"I know how you feel," Mangle replied, sort of looking down at the checkered floor or the room. "My friends kinda don't like me, either. I don't like it, but use hell-goers have to kinda stick together, eh?"
"I suppose you're right. Guess it'll be nice to have a friend for once. Someone I can talk to."
"It is nice when you can talk to someone, I will agree. Did any of them actually like you before a certain point?"
"Never. They never once told me that I was appreciated, only that I was hated. I've never had the chance to talk about this, never get any help for this. Had to deal with it myself, always hoping that anyone would come along to rid me of these depressive thoughts."
"I wish I could relate to that," Mangle stated. "My friends started hating me around the first time kids came in here and tore me apart. The mechanics fixed me, but none of them looked at me the same way again. After a few months, they stopped fixing me, and I was left completely alone. Essentially left for dead by my friends and those who were trying to help."
"Hopefully, with the way I fixed you, they won't be able to dismantle you again. And even if they did, I'd still come back and fix you again."
"You're so sweet, how could anyone hate you?" Mangle placed her hand on his left cheek, and whispered, "You're such a precious soul."
Foxy smiled at her, finally feeling cared for; loved. A feeling he'd been missing since he realised he was alive. He had a hard time even believing this was real. He came in, and fixed an animatronic that also had the ability to become human, on top of that, she was attractive, nice, and caring. There was no way she was real.
"I— I just can't believe this," Foxy managed. He was welling up with tears, having a hard time getting his thoughts together.
Maybe this was his chance to feel whole for the first time. To finally see what he'd been missing this whole time. Then again, maybe not. Maybe she was just really appreciative.
"I— I don't want to be anywhere else right now," he said at last. "I think I'm falling in love."
"Heh, stop," Mangle said blushing, "you don't need to be that way..."
"I'm serious," Foxy said slowly, "I just have this feeling in my heart... It's indescribable."
"Look, I don't know you that well—"
"I told you everything there is to know about me, c'mon... I don't know how to deny this feeling..."
"I'm not ready for a relationship right now... I don't even know your name."
"Foxy. My name is Foxy."
"I— I heard the man with the tape recorder talk about you. He was... he was recording some kind of message about something I can't remember, but he mentioned you."
"The man with the tape recorder?"
"I— I guess i-it's not important... Maybe you'll see him soon, but... I'm just not ready for a relationship. Especially with someone I just met today... Sorry..."
"No, you don't need to be sorry," Foxy said with a huff. "I guess I should've just taken the friendship, because God knows I'm tired of being totally alone."
"Heh, I know how you feel."
"So, I guess we should sorta sit and kinda talk for a bit, then. Like you said, hell-goers need to stick together."
"Uh, sure, I guess."
Mangle's sudden distance from the conversation made Foxy's heart twinge. He'd hoped whatever came out of his stupid mouth hadn't affected her. He didn't want to have fucked up so soon.
She sat in corner against the same wall the door was on, and he sat against the adjacent wall, and looked at her.
"What sorta things do you find fun?" Foxy asked, trying to save the conversation.
"I dunno. I've never really had the time to discover it," she stated in reply. "I overhear people talking about travelling, but the idea of being away kinda scares me. I guess... maybe I'd really like to eventually have someone special to eventually settle down with, but I'm not totally sure I'm ready."
"Understandable," Foxy said, pouring carefully over what she'd said. He was unsure of what to ask next. There wasn't any topics he could really latch onto for a conversation.
"So what do you do for fun?" Mangle asked suddenly.
"Oh, I— I don't do anything. The only thing I've ever been allowed to do is sit in Pirate's Cove and twiddle my thumbs, essentially. I've never gone outside of that place, in fact, I woke up after having passed out or something in the Cove."
"Well, there's no Pirate's Cove you have to twiddle at here. There's of course, this place, Kids' Cove, but only I have to stay here."
"Yeah, I essentially have to stay in the back room so I don't end up scaring kids off."
"I guess that's true. But hey, at least you can come see me in the after hours and we can talk."
"We're already running into the problem that there's not much in common."
"I see you're quick to give up. There's no reason for us to stop trying things. We'll eventually find something to discuss, and we can get each other to try out new things to have something to talk about, too."
"I guess you're right, it's just— I know there's gonna be something you end up hating me for. I'm not sure if I wanna go into this, having that pretence ahead of me. Like, I feel it's unavoidable..."
"Why do you feel that way?"
"I told you, I'd never fit in with my group of co-workers, animatronic counterparts. They hated me because I was different, and that's probably because I wasn't a personality that really fit in. I imagine there will be something you will find about me, just because I'm apparently that type of person. Anyone can find something to hate about me, and scrutinise me for it. I can't control it, either, most of the time. It's just... a part of me."
"And I've told you, I know how you feel. You'd think I'd just straight up start hating you, knowing that we relate so closely? Yeah, maybe we aren't in the exact same situation, because I at least sorta get out and kinda talk with the others, but I know the isolation you've been through has been hell."
"I guess... But I doubt that'd keep you from finding something. No point in not trying, though. I guess I'll hold on to happiness for as long as I'll have it."
"I hate to hear hopeless words from someone who has so much potential, in my eyes."
"How do I have potential? I'm an unwanted piece of trash. No one else saw any potential in me, what do you see?"
"I see someone who can be caring. I see someone who'd make a great friend if they were given the chance, they just never have been. But, here we are, now. Let's change things, let's be friends, Foxy."
"Alright, so, just forget all the shit I've been through? All the false paths I've been led down, all the hurt I've felt in my heart?"
"No, I want you to be friends with me," Mangle whispered, crawling closer.
She snuggled her nose up against his neck. The feeling of her breath against his neck made Foxy blush. He was left speechless, having nothing but questions.
"Th— this is a bit close for just friends, don'tchya think?" he asked,
"Do you not like it?" she asked slowly, leaving the question hanging with a smirk he couldn't see.
"No, it's n–not that... you just said you weren't ready for a serious relationship, and this is that sorta level of close."
"Maybe I just don't like others making the first move," Mangle stayed before placing a kiss on his neck.
She giggled quietly, as Foxy's face turned a darker shade of red. He tried to cop a smile, but only managed a goofy, nervous grin. He wrapped his arm around her waist, attempting to make the situation feel normal.
"You smell nice for someone who's been trapped in the back room for so long," she mentioned, pressing a hand against his chest.
"Heh, thanks I guess," Foxy replied quietly.
She planted another kiss softly against his collar bone, before sliding up to nuzzle his cheek. His face only got slowly more crimson. He tried to continue smiling, but his face only grew with worry. Was she leading him on to make fun of what he said, or was this true? He wanted so goddamn much for it to be true.
Mangle took her hand from his chest, placing it on the cheek opposite the one she was snuggled up against. She slowly turned his head towards her, leaning in slightly to make their lips meet.
Foxy's face felt like it was on fire. He was already trying to hold it together, not do something embarrassing, but now this was happening. What happened to when he let the fact that he thought he was falling in love slip? He was almost certain he was being led on, she was just teasing him.
Any moment, the kiss would break, and she'd laugh at him.
But when she did eventually pull away, she did so slowly. Once she was away, she did nothing but smile.
Foxy was taken aback. What the hell was this? This couldn't be real. He couldn't have gone from making small talk with an animatronic he'd fixed to kissing someone he felt extremely attracted to.
"I— I uh..." Foxy managed. He had no words for what had happened.
"Shush, no need to say anything my red fox," Mangle whispered. "Just know you have someone that loves you, you're not alone anymore."
Foxy stood silently, and began to walk away. He needed a chance to think and clear his head. That was an experience unlike any other.
Mangle curled up in the floor, stretching one last time before closing her eyes. She smiled, contented with the fact that she'd been able to charm him in just the right way. He was left speechless, and she considered that mission accomplished.
He'd left her pretty much speechless with his act, only right she should return such a favour.
Meanwhile, he tried to silently sneak his way into the back room, being sure that he didn't disturb anyone else who was there. He just wanted to curl up in the floor and go to sleep, and use that time to contemplate what had happened.
The light flicked on, however, and he was caught mid-step in the middle of the room.
"Where the hell have you been?" Bonnie questioned him, having some sort of stern look on his face.
"Making a friend," Foxy replies, "something I've wanted for ten fucking years."
"Watch it, sailor-mouth. Maybe you'd have a friend if you learned to control your temper and language."
"Alternatively, you could stop being a little pussy about it, and suck your boyfriend's dick instead of scrutinising my word choice."
Bonnie remained silent, flustered. Freddy, meanwhile, was behind him trying to hold in a laugh. That was honestly one of the most devastating things Foxy had ever said to Bonnie, but he deserved it.
"Look here, you stupid fox, you're nothing more than a broken, worthless attraction. Whatever friend you tried to make won't last more than a month."
"Maybe you're right, but at least it'll be the best friend I've ever had. Someone who won't instantly start hating me for no reason."
Bonnie was clearly getting very frustrated. His arms were shaking wildly, his teeth were clenched tightly, and it was clear his words were doing him no favours.
He was more pissed than anything that he didn't have hands, and he was taking it out on Foxy. Though, the redhead was lucky that Bonnie didn't have his hands, or else things would've started getting physical.
"Look, Bonnie, I know it brings you an odd sense of pleasure you probably get off to to bring me down, but I'm just a bit too happy to give into your shenanigans right now. Sorry to disappoint."
"It's fine," Bonnie said through clenched teeth.
"Maybe you should just lay down and go to sleep, Bonnie," Freddy chimes in.
"No one asked you, Freddy!" Bonnie yelled, before storming off to one corner of the room. It was hard to make a dramatic exit, given they had nowhere to go.
He pulled his knees to his chest, and attempted to fall asleep against the left wall.
Freddy looked at Foxy, and nodded, before doing the same to Chica.
They each took a corner, and laid down in the floor. Foxy sprawled himself out, giving himself plenty of room to sort of roll around in his sleep. He usually had a lot of space in Pirate's Cove, and was glad he didn't necessarily have to give that part up.
That night wasn't a very happy and restful one for him, though. He woke up multiple times from a nightmare of Mangle betraying him. He just wanted someone he could trust, for fuck's sake. He didn't wanna live in fear of being stabbed in the back.
But of course, that was a life he could never lead. Why? Well, just look at who he had to room with. He couldn't help but be paranoid with how he'd been treated over the past decade.
He finally awoke the next morning to find that he couldn't even step foot outside of the back room. It was the middle of the day. If some random guy, much less some random animatronic were to show up in the middle of the workday, it would raise more than a little suspicion.
He was itching to talk to her, though. He wanted out, he wanted to be free. He felt that the walls were closing in as he peeked outside. That was supposed to be them out there — Chica, Bonnie, and Freddy. He was supposed to be the one in the back no one payed attention to, it felt so weird for all of them to be neglected. He wasn't even sure if he liked it.
There was some sort of individuality to being the loner who had to be on his own. Now, even that had been stripped from him. He had nothing left but her. If she stabbed him in the back, that was it. He gave up at that point.
"Foxy, what're you doing?" the voice of Freddy rang.
Foxy jumped, closing the door, "N-nothing..."
"What's even out there for us, anymore?"
"Nothing, like I said. I long for freedom even still, though."
"I don't doubt that, but, we're stuck here. No point in wishing to be where you can't ever go."
Foxy went silent. He didn't want to admit that it was because he wanted to go out there just to talk to her. He probably made last night's statement look like a lie. But either way, she had to be kept a secret from everyone else. They'd find a way to turn her.
He didn't want to be alone again, so soon after finally having found someone, but they'd eventually find out about her. He just hoped and prayed that when the time came that they did find out, they were already deeply rooted friends.
But he grew quickly impatient. He wanted words to find the ears of someone who'd listen — he wanted to taste her lips again. Not even 24 hours, and he was having withdrawals.
He considered maybe one day going to a therapist for help, but he brushed off the idea, convincing himself that no amount of explanation could put into words just how he'd always felt.
He slowly cracked the door open again, peeking through to what he could see. He saw down the main hallway to the birthday room, and how he longed to be the one entertaining whatever kid was there.
Not only did he want someone, anyone to be his friend, he wants to fulfill his purpose of being entertaining. He was built and designed for that, and yet, he'd not done it once.
He sighed as he shut the door again, and laid down on the floor to fall sleep again.