Bad Mood Bonnie
David had expected many things when he left the world of education and entered the cruel realm of the public sector. Long office hours. A soul destroying job at some computer. Typing up reports for some big wig who worked half as much as he did, but twice as much more. Living in some tiny apartment with questionable health standards.
The latter part of that was certainly true. For now, anyway. What he never expected was to be standing in a kid's restaurant after hours and being taught by one of the performers the proper way to perform a staged sword fight.
"Jus' keep doin' tha', lad," encouraged Foxy, slowly moving his sword around. "Make tha' X shape with the tip-a the blade an' rotate yer wrist. Don' hold the sword too tight, relax yer grip."
"It's kind of hard not to," said David while mirroring Foxy, albeit awkwardly. "I don't want this thing to fly out of my hand."
"Bu' if ya grip it too tight, yer arm'll go tense and it'll start ta hurt not long after," Foxy told him. "Keep a good hold of it, bu' don' grip it like yer tryin' ta strangle a chicken."
David laughed a bit. "Better not let Chica hear you say that."
"Aye, poor choice-a words reflectin' back on it," agreed Foxy.
"Also, do you guys even feel things like aching?" he asked. "I've seen Freddy dent metal with his fists."
"Oh we're strong, no doubt," confirmed Foxy. "Bu' even we have our limits. We can run outta energy if we push ourselves too much an' our limbs can suffer strain. It'd take a lot more than what a human can endure, bu' we're no' limitless. It'd take somethin' like the force of a truck before we'd feel any strain."
"Remind me not to try and ram you guys with any trucks in the future then," remarked David. "You said you can run out of energy. Do you guys ever need any rest? Like humans need sleep?"
"No' in the normal sense, lad. See, we're kept pretty busy all year 'round an' despite how we're made, tha' can take it's toll or so we're told," said Foxy. "So, fer abou' three nights every three months, we have one big rejuvenation period fer us ta really recharge our batteries. Like goin' ta sleep fer you."
"So that means for about…" David did a quick mental calculation. "Twelve nights I'm going to be on my own? Better prepare a few new mixtapes then."
"I'm sure ye'll be fine," assured Foxy. "If ye think ye can cope withou' us fer that long."
"I think I can find ways to entertain myself," he shrugged.
"Maybe like doin' a lil' jig like ye did on yer firs' night?" suggested Foxy with a chortle.
"I just might," said David proudly. "And you'll all have to miss out on the show because you'll be sound asleep."
"Tha' is a real tragedy," agreed Foxy. "Woulda been nice to have a bi' of a laugh before we need ta get some shuteye."
"Then I'll have to make sure I arrange a performance for you all before then," decided David. "It's just unfair you'll have to miss out."
"How considerate-a ye," laughed Foxy. "I admire yer spirit, Dave me lad. Takes some real courage ta do what ya want an' no' care wha' other think."
"I think you might find some differing of opinion depending on who you ask. But thanks, Foxy," he added.
"My pleasure, lad." His ears suddenly flickered. "Eh? What's tha' then? Listen."
David did and he realised what Foxy meant. Though muffled through the door, what sounded unmistakably like raised voices were coming from the kitchen. Both of them were women's.
"Is that Bonnie and Chica?" wondered David.
"Sounds like it," agreed Foxy. "What do ye reckon's got 'em so riled?"
David was about to suggest they go and find out when the kitchen doors suddenly burst open. Bonnie stormed out with an expression beset with rage. Chica wasn't far behind, looking just as angry.
"Bonnie, come back!" she shouted. "You're being ridiculous!"
"I didn't ask for your help!" shouted back Bonnie. "I told you, I could handle it myself!"
"You just looked like you had your hands full!" retorted Chica. "I only thought-"
"Well you thought wrong!" she interrupted. "I don't need you showing me how to do my job!"
"I wasn't trying to show you anything! I was trying to help you take a load off!"
"It's the fourth time you've crashed my show this week! Those kids were mine to look after!"
"I'm only trying to help because you keep taking on more than you can entertain by yourself!"
"I was doing just fine on my own! You saying I don't know how to handle a bunch of kids?!"
"No, but… no, I won't say it," she said suddenly.
"No, no, go on. I'm all ears," insisted Bonnie, waggling them for emphasis.
"Bonnie, don't make me say it," she said in a hard voice.
"Well, why not? Apparently, I can make you butt in when I don't want you to so why not say what's on your mind when I want you to? Huh, buddy?" she demanded.
"Fine then!" yelled Chica. "Contrary to what you may believe, you're not as great as you may think you are!"
"Wha-?" Bonnie blinked. "But… I'm not… shut up! Like you're any better!"
Chica spluttered. "What on earth is that supposed to mean?!"
"You know what! It's so dumb, how much you dote and fawn over those kids! You might like to think it, but you're not their freakin' mother!"
"B-Bonnie!" Chica looked like she'd really been hurt by that last comment. "W-Why would you say something like that?!"
Bonnie scoffed. "Oh, you know exactly what I mean! You're so doting and motherly, like you think they're yours! Well, they're not and they never will be!"
Chica was in stunned silence, her bottom lip quivering. She tried to say something, but her voice broke. Her broken speech was made worse by choked sobs.
"Bon!" Foxy bellowed. "Wha's gotten inta ye, lass?!"
"Beat it, peg leg," she snapped. "Nobody asked you."
"What're ye snappin' at me for?" asked Foxy. "Why're ye upsettin' Chica like tha'?"
"Like it matters to you!" she sneered. "But fine, go on and take her side! I can never count on you, can I?! You're just as bad as she is! I don't need your help either!"
"Hey, no need to get mad at him," David said. "I think we all just need to calm down and-"
"Oh forget you!" she shouted at him. "You're not even one of us, so why should I listen to anything you have to say?! I said I never wanted a stinking babysitter!"
"ENOUGH!" They all looked to see Freddy striding out of the office. "Bonnie! Apologise at once!"
Bonnie looked like she was going to say something to Freddy too. But she stopped herself. She looked around at them all, fixing David with a hard glare. Her gaze lingered on Freddy for a moment too. Then, she stalked off down the west hall and they heard a door slam.
By this time, Chica had broken down into full blown sobbing. Foxy quickly hurried to her and gave her a hug which she gratefully returned. David came over as well and was joined by Freddy at around the same time.
"It's alrigh', lass, it's alrigh'," comforted Foxy.
"I… I shouldn't have… s-said that t-to her…" she wept.
"Don't you even start blaming yourself for this," said David firmly. "You're not the one in the wrong here."
"How about we take this into the kitchen?" suggested Freddy gently. "Take as much time as you need until you're well enough to talk about it and tell us what the matter is when you do. That sound good?"
Chica nodded shakily and let herself be led back by the three of them. David took over comforting her while Foxy went and grabbed a chair for her from the dining room. Freddy went to get her a soda and a cupcake from her personal stash. She had a little bit of both before she calmed down after a few minutes.
"There we go. Come on, look up. Let's see those pretty purple eyes of yours." David caught a faint blush as she reluctantly looked up, her eyes still shimmering faintly. "Much better. Whenever you're ready, tell us what happened."
Chica sniffed and took a few breaths. "W-Well, you know how we… w-walk around at some point in the d-day? We u-usually take groups of kids b-by ourselves to do o-our own activities w-with them."
"We already know tha', lass," pointed out Foxy.
"I'm sure she's just explaining for David's benefit since he's not here much durin' the day," reasoned Freddy. "Go on, Chica."
"Okay. Y-You and Foxy may have s-seen, Freddy but Bonnie… a few times, she took on more kids than she could d-do on her own. They'd st-start getting rowdy and she couldn't get them to calm d-down. So full of energy, the little dears," she said fondly. "Whenever that happened, I'd go over and lighten the l-load for her, so to speak. B-Bring some kids into my group, I mean."
"Oh aye, I've done tha' fer her a couple-a times too," said Foxy. "Brought a few-a the more active ones ta join me crew ta really wear 'em down."
"I may have too, once or twice," said Freddy. "Even if she needs it, Bonnie's not really the type to ask for help."
"And all of this has come to ahead tonight then," surmised David.
Freddy frowned thoughtfully for a moment. "David, I think you should talk to her about this."
"Huh? Why me? You guys have known her longer than I have and she doesn't seem to like me all that much," he added.
"Whaddya mean, lad?" asked Foxy. "She's always a lil' mischievous, even wi' us."
"It's different with me. Ever since we met, I think she's had a problem with me. She wanted to wear the suits in our game to deliberately scare me. Then, there's her pranks," he went on. "I know that's kind of her thing but that balloon full of pizza sauce suspended above my chair was a bit much. And don't get me started on the stink bombs left attached to the bottoms of the security doors."
"Is tha' wha' tha' smell was?" asked Foxy. "I jus' though' ye were havin' digestion problems."
"My point is," he went on quickly, "is that I really think she has an issue with me. Or at the very least, she feels like she can take out her problems on me for whatever reason. I've seen the type, I know. I mean, what is that? It's been a month now and she still doesn't trust me?"
"I think it's tied into this," said Freddy. "I've come to notice that, whenever I have, her… unique remarks and individual behaviour is made worse on the following night. The very fact she seems to take issue with you is the same reason why I think you should talk to her. It's time to bury the hatchet or it'll only continue to be sharpened."
"I guess you have a point," agreed David reluctantly. "Guess I'd better get this over with. Wish me luck, guys and if I don't make it back… Foxy, you can have my Walkman."
"Much appreciated. Best-a luck, lad," he wished. "I don't envy ye."
"David?" Chica managed a small smile. "Don't be too harsh on Bonnie. She's… she's my friend."
"I don't think it's her you should be worried about," he joked. "But I'll try not to let things get too out of hand."
"Thank you," she said sincerely.
"I owe you my thanks too," said Freddy. "You're a good man, David."
David nodded and left the kitchen, making his way to the west hall. The first door he came to was the supply closet and he could see a light on under the door. An odd place for a sulk, but it wasn't like there were many other places in this restaurant.
"Bonnie?" He knocked on the door. "You in there?" There was no answer. "Right. Okay, I'm coming in there." He started to open the door.
"Open that door and I'll rip it off and beat you with it," threatened Bonnie.
"Ah, speech. Now we're getting somewhere." He shut the door. "Okay then, I'll just talk from this side."
"I don't want to talk. Even if I did, there is no way you'd be my first choice. Just leave me alone," she muttered.
"Alright, don't talk. Listen." He leaned against the door. "So, I think I get why you're mad. You're one of those people that like to try and do as much as they can on their own. I can admire that. It's just when it gets to the point that you're getting ticked off at your friends just because they're trying to help that I think it's taken to an extreme. Just slightly."
He almost fell back into the supply closet when the door suddenly opened. There stood Bonnie and if looks could kill…
"What makes you think you know anything about me?" she said in a low voice. "Who the hell do you think you are?"
"David Smith, the night guard," he retorted easily. "And I don't want to assume anything, but that's pretty much all you're giving me to work off. Especially since you just made one of your best friends cry."
"That wasn't my fault!" she snapped. "She pushed me! What was I supposed to say?!"
"Something that didn't reduce her to tears? Do you honestly feel that you're the one in the right after that?" he asked.
"Yeah! I mean, no! I mean… shut up!" she yelled. "Stop trying to mess with me!"
"I'm not. I'm just trying to get you to realise that you've hurt your friend and you should apologise. Unless you like seeing your friends hurt?" he accused.
"I said shut up!" she shouted. "I don't need to take this from you!"
"That's another thing. What is your problem with me anyway?" he asked. "You're always giving me a hard time, especially when something else ticks you off. Freddy's noticed and I'm right on the receiving end."
"What the hell do you care?" she demanded. "What makes you think you're so special? Why are you even here?! We were just fine without you! We don't need you! So why don't you get out of my face and leave me alone?!"
"So first it's we, then it's you?" He arched an eyebrow. "Who is it you're angry at exactly, Bonnie?"
She started forward and David saw her fists clench. He tensed, thinking she was about to fight him. But she stopped. She closed her eyes and turned away, folding her arms and not looking at him.
"So we lapse into silence again?" She didn't respond. "Look, it's clear that you've got some beef with me. I don't know why exactly but you do. But whatever problem you may have with me, you're not making it easier on me or the others. They have to put up with it too and it's just making our nights more difficult. As much as you make it seem like you don't care, you don't like that you upset Chica and you're not helping anyone, especially not yourself, by taking out your feelings on me.
"I'm not quitting this job, Bonnie. The pay is decent, it's steady and I honestly really like spending my nights with you guys. You're unique and not just because of what you are. I'm here for the long haul and like it or not, you'll have to get used to it. So rather than continue to hate my guts for whatever reason you might have, how about we just forget about everything, start over and actually try to be friends?"
Again, there was no reply. David couldn't tell if his words had any kind of impact on her and he had the feeling he wasn't going to get anything else out of her for tonight anyway. She needed some time to herself now.
"Alright, I'm going to leave you alone now. At the very least, come out and say sorry to Chica at some point. Even after all of that, she was blaming herself for what happened and she was worried about your feelings. You don't get friends like that every day. And hey? When you do feel like talking to me, remember I play guitar too and it's been a while since I played with anyone. Just saying." He stayed a moment longer, but she still didn't look at him. "See you tomorrow night, Bonnie."
As he closed the door on her, he could have sworn she moved slightly to look at him go. Perhaps say something to him. But by the time he noticed it, he was already on his way back to the kitchen to check on Chica.
A bit of a shorter one but hopefully y'all still enjoy it.
JJ: No unnecessary OCs.
1OneHuman: No problem and I appreciate you for always leaving a well worded review.
Kliff: Thank you but again, don't let me stop you from doing your own story.
Balloon: Yes.
Zerothekitsune: Yeah, I think we've all felt like that at some point. It sucks.
Alexis: Thank you and yes, poor Mike. Hopefully things'll look up for him.
You know, I do enjoy these flashback chapters. It's like I'm back working with the core characters again. Adding in Mike's parents here just feels a bit more awkward. But never fear, I shall continue this story to the end.
Be strong, be swift, be just my friends.
