Okay I hate this chapter but it's going somewhere I promise.
Chapter 21
The following days were very confusing for Springtrap. It seemed that several of the other animatronics had heard of the fight between him and the puppet, and while they had politely avoided him before, they now treated him like the plague. While Springtrap had to admit that it hurt, nothing bothered him as much as the mere thought of the puppet. To know that Marionette had killed humans for the pure sport was almost enough to make the rabbit animatronic want to snap the puppet in two. Yet for better or worse the animatronics and the boys needed the puppet.
"He plays with them." Springtrap told himself as he thought things over. This knowledge bothered Springtrap and he wasn't sure what to do with it.
Springtrap wanted to sit both boys down and tell them everything. He wanted them to be safe, even if it meant he'd never get to see them again. Yet everytime he tried to sit down and talk with them the puppet or one of his lackeys would be near by. The other animatronics had know the boy far longer than he had, and the boys would surely listen to them rather than him. Still Springtrap hated to leave the boys in mystery and he eventually told Mike exactly what had lead to the fight.
"The puppet thought that I had...molested you." Springtrap said through his teeth. Mike felt queasy for a bit and clearly it showed. Springtrap handed Mike a bucket. "A bucket, sir?" Springtrap said in a terrible british accent.
This made Mike smile just a little bit. "You can't do a british to for shit." Mike shivered a bit as Springtraps eyes darkened.
"Young man, langage." Mike apologize, and Springtrap's eyes quickly returned to normal. "Any way Mike I just wanted to tell you-"
"Hey you don't have to say it, Marionette can be an ass- I mean a jerk. But...he's really an okay guy."
"Mike I don't think-"
"I mean if it wasn't for Marionette Felix would never have been born." Mike said, softly. "I know he takes some getting use to but he's really alright."
"Errr" Springtrap wanted to tell Mike that the puppet was just playing with them, he really did. But the more Mike and Jeremy talked about the puppet the clearer it became that the puppet had made them dependent on them, or at the very least made them think that he was an okay person. "How could I tell them everything and have them believe me." Springtrap thought to himself. "I'll just wait, until I have some more proof, and then I'm taking him down."
(*(*(
Taking down the puppet and waiting for the puppet to screw up should have gone hand and hand. Springtrap was sure that it would really only take a couple of days for the puppet to do something, or say something that was pretty evil. Only it didn't.
Whenever Springtrap watched the puppet, which was nearly every moment of the day, the puppet seemed to be on his best behavior. This wasn't to say that the puppet was much nicer than he usually was but Springtrap did notice that the puppet was being, cautious.
Springtrap didn't like it. He felt that at any moment the puppet would either get tired of the act or tired of the boys and then...he'd get rid of them. Just like the guards.
Springtrap let out a sigh as he sat near the stage of pirates cove. Usually Springtrap wasn't really allowed here, though he hadn't been told that he couldn't come here he could tell Foxy didn't want him anywhere near the cove. But today for whatever reason the fox had invited him here.
It was odd, being able to leave his pizzeria during the day and traveling to the cove, though it was even weirder for Springtrap to see Foxy become human. Still Springtrap felt that he couldn't give up the invitation, Jeremy had apparently been allowed to go with Mike to school for a day. Meaning he was safe from Springtrap, but even more so Springtrap really just wanted to see the baby.
At the moment Foxy sat on stage as he watched his son run around the cove. Despite Felix's wobbly legs the child could move very quickly. Springtrap smiled at Felix would grab a toy, hand it to his father, and then proceed to take the toy back and place it somewhere else in the room.
"Laddy be careful." Foxy said in a playful tone as Felix tried to pick up one of his larger toys. It was a pirate ship, and though it was plastic it was very clear that the toy almost weighed more that the boy. "You're suppose to sit in it matey." Foxy laughed as he hopped off the stage. "Here let your Pa help you."
Springtrap felt his circuits jolt as he watched the baby giggle. "It's been so long" Springtrap thought to himself silently. As soon as Springtrap had been taken out of storage he knew that his entertaining days were over unless he was repaired. But the repairs never came. He let out a sigh as he watched Felix, wishing so badly to go up to the baby and hold him. "But then he'd have nightmares for the rest of his life." Springtrap thought sadly. Lost in his thoughts he hadn't noticed the tiny human that was crawling towards him until the child was only a few inches away.
Quickly Springtrap jumped back a little bit, causing Felix to giggle as he reached for Springtrap. "Hi there little one. Why don't you go back to your Pa." He said nervously.
Foxy only laughed. "Don't tell me your afraid of children."
Springtrap shook his head. "No I just-"
"You can hold him if you'd like." Foxy said with a smile. "He doesn't bite, eh, not much anyway."
For a second Springtrap was sure he had misheard the fox. Since the moment the two met Springtrap could tell that Foxy didn't like him much. Even when Foxy walked over he picked up Felix and placed the baby in Springtrap's arms the older animatronic still couldn't process exactly what was happening.
"You haven't held one in quite some time, hu?" Foxy said gently as Springtrap looked at him with shocked eyes. "I'm not gonna lie, before this one came along I didn't get much of a chance to hold any of the kiddies."
Springtrap knew that his mouth must have dropped open but he couldn't help it. "W-why are you letting me hold him?"
"Cause I can tell that you need it, and I…" Foxy sighed "I haven't been very fair to you. I… well I was jealous. Over Mike liking you so much...See Mike is part of my family and I...I thought we were getting close. Or at least closer...than you came along and he liked you better." Foxy sighed "I was frustrated that it taken me months for me to build a relationship with the uncle of my son while it only took you a few days." Foxy sighed as he looked at Springtrap "So I'm sorry."
Springtrap nodded. "Thank you." He said softly
"And I wanted to thank you, because you've been helping Mike…" Foxy trailed off a bit before chuckling softly "I-um was told a bit about Mike's mother from Beth the night we… got together. So when Mike said she was missing I kind of expected her to you know...be gone. But I thought that when Mike found out what had happened to her he would have come to me. I thought that we were closer...but I guess we're not as close as I thought."
Springtrap shifted the baby in his arms before looking back at Foxy. "You know Mike loves you right?"
Foxy looked at the older animatronic in confusion but when he tried to talk it just came out as a confused squeak.
"He doesn't like to say it. I really only got it out of him cause he gets a little talkative after consuming his weight in sugar and what not. But he does care, Mike just really hates to say it."
Foxy felt his human heart squeeze itself in his chest. "He does?"
Springtrap nodded before he remembered that he wasn't suppose to tell Foxy any of that. "Just make sure you don't tell Mike I said a word. He doesn't want you to get comfortable with him."
Foxy hadn't been listening to Springtrap however. Instead he was focused on the door and the person who was coming through it. "MIke!"
Mike waved at the them. "Hey guys, have you seen-" Mike stepped back as Foxy jumped on him, wrapping him in a tight hug.
"Aw Mikey you love me. Ya really love me."
"What! No, stop- I don't love you." Mike said as he tried to fight his way out of Foxy's grip. Human or not Foxy was very much stronger than Mike which made escaping from his death hug that much harder.
"Na Laddy you can't fool me. Springtrap told me everything." Foxy said happily. "You little scamp, I love you too."
Mike turned to glare at Springtrap, a clear look of "I told you not to tell him." Springtrap simply smiled weakly and bounced Felix on his knee as he tried to avoid Mike's gaze.
Mike continued to struggle against Foxy until he eventually gave in and allowed himself to be snuggled. "I guess all animatronics are a bunch of blabber mouths. Though I didn't expect it from you Spring." Mike growled, through his words didn't have much heat to them.
"He gave me a baby!" Springtrap said helplessly as he hung his head. "I was weak"
*(*(*
The following days were calmer for Mike despite the day of his graduation was nearing. He knew for the most part that the people that would come and see him were only be a few. Beth's old business partner would be there, as well as some of her old friends. He knew that Jeremy would tag along and there was a high chance of Foxy tagging along he'd bring Felix along. Yet the closer he got to graduation day the more he'd feel...cheated.
"Don't worry" Beth had told Mike as she sat up in her hospital bed days before the baby was born. " I still have some pep in me, and I promise that one way or another I'll be there to see you walk down that stage. I promise"
As Mike sat next to the stage at the pizzeria he couldn't help but feel angry. "You promised. " Mike mumbled as he started at the floor.
"Something has you down?" Foxy asked quietly.
Mike jumped just a little. He was sure that most of the other animatronics were at the second pizzeria getting ready for some big event and had expected to be alone with Jeremy and Springtrap. "No…" Mike began but then lightly shook his head. "Maybe, I don't know." He layed down on the stage and sighed. "I'm graduating in three days, and it's gonna be awesome. Stacy's mom is renting some place for the night and it's gonna be a pretty big party. So I should be happy…"
"But your not." Foxy said softly as he hopped onto the stage and sat next to Mike.
Mike nodded "When I started my junior year, it was right before Beth started getting real sick and she...she promised me she'd be at my graduation." Mike said softly.
"You know she would have come if she could." Foxy sighed "I didn't get to know her all that well but she cared for you. She mentioned you in fact, when we were getting drinks together."
Mike looked up at Foxy with an odd expression. "Well...that's kind of weird."
"Not really, she was just saying that she was proud. I guess you did something, a school project or something. I wasn't really listening."
Mike began to clap his hands. "Wow you talk to women at bars but you don't even listen to them. Oh what a gentleman."
"Hey, that's not fair I had other things on my mind." Foxy huffed as he crossed his arms. He realized of course that what he just said sounded terrible which had earned him a glare from Mike.
"You're a terrible person."
"Ey we shouldn't talk about me right now this is a you conversation."
"Well you brought it up." Mike said crossly
"Look the point I'm trying to make is your sister loved you. I'm sure if you talk to anyone who knew her they'd say the same." Foxy gently squeezed Mike's right shoulder. "I know it's hard matey but if it makes you feel better I'll bring Felix...and in a way I guess you could say that Beth is there."
Mike nodded "Yeah, I guess so." He stood up and hopped off the stage. "Thanks for the talk." Mike stretched himself out as he let out a yawn. "I think I'm gonna take a nap, have school and what not tomorrow."
Foxy looked at the boy, displeased that Mike really didn't seem all that much happier. He smiled wickedly as an idea came into his head. "Oh Mike" Foxy said much like a mischievous child.
Mike sighed as he turned around. "Yes Foxy-Hey what are you-" Mike let out a yelp as Foxy tackled him, and quickly picked him up like a small child.
"Let me help you turn that frown around." Foxy said as he flipped Mike upside down.
"Foxy! I am almost 17 years old! I'm too old for these games.-" Mike was cut off as he felt something fuzzy brush against his side. "No! Don't you dare." Mike gasped as he felt Foxy's tale continue to brush his stomach.
"You know Felix is real ticklish right about...here." Foxy said as he brushed his tale over Mike's belly. "I wonder if it runs in the family."
"D-don't" Mike said as pressed his lips together. "S-stop" He tried to stop his face from smiling but found it impossible as a laugh escaped his mouth. Mike tried to stop himself but once Foxy began to tickle his armpits Mike knew he was done for.
"Hm, your just about as ticklish as the baby." A devilish grin ran across Foxy's face. "I wonder if you'd like to spin like the baby?"
"Foxy, come on!" Mike protested as the room began to spin around him. "I'm grown! I-" Mike closed his mouth as his stomach lurched. "Okay" Mike begged "I feel better, just please stop spinning me around."
Foxy smiled trumpeted as he placed Mike on the ground. "That's all I needed to hear matey."
As Mike tried to regain his balance he layed down on the floor. "Hey Foxy, can you maybe not tell the others."
"That you're ticklish or how easy it to pick you up?"
"Both and...can you not tell them about, you know, Beth and what not."
"Why not laddy, they'd understand."
Mike stood up on his still shaky legs. "No offense Foxy but I can only take so much cheering up."
"Alright matey your secret's safe with me."
"Sure it is King of the blabber mouths." Mike teased, as he began to run to the office.
"Hey!" Foxy said as he chased after the teen.
*)*)(*)
Springtrap continued to glare at the puppet as the other animatronics listened intently to everything the puppet was saying.
"So we'll have Mikey's graduation party here." Chica said excitedly.
"And we'll get to see all his friends?" Bonnie squealed
The puppet nodded "But I should warn you all, this will be a teen party. It' quite different from a children's party."
"How so?" Springtrap said uneasily. Though it had been a very long time since his last birthday party he couldn't imagine a graduation being much different. "The kids will eat and play right?"
"Not exactly" The puppet corrected "Teens don't really play games. It's quite different, so I feel you should be prepared to see some things that would never see at a kids party." In a swift movement the puppet pulled out a dozen charts or so. "Alright lets go over all this."
*(*)
An hour or so later the animatronics looked at the wall with the posters in confusion. They understood the puppet's presentation but at the same time few things made sense to them. Both Bonnie's and Chica's looked at each other as if they were trying to ask the others if they understood anything that the puppet was trying to tell them. It was clear how ever as red eyes met magenta ones and magenta eyes met blue ones.
It was Freddy who broke the confused silence. "So the teens, will play games?"
"They might" The puppet shrugged "As much as I tried I don't know much about these kids other than the fact that they are Mike's friends."
Much to the surprise of everyone toy Freddy spoke next. "If the kids don't need us to perform what are we going to do?"
The puppet smiled "An excellent question Fred. Now I don't want to ruin the surprise so you'll all just have to wait till graduation day comes around."
*(*(
Mangle smiled as she hovered over Mike. She enjoyed watching him sleep, not just because he looked so childish with his brown hair hiding his eyes, but also because Mike would occasionally smile in his sleep. "He's just so adorable" Mangle thought to herself. Despite all the time she spent with Felix she couldn't help but feel just a bit uneasy around him. It didn't matter to Mangle that Felix never tried to take her apart, except for the time he tried to pull her ears, Mangle knew that Felix was a very nice baby. Still Mangle just felt more comfortable around the older boys.
She turned her attention to Jeremy who was sleeping peacefully in the bed next to Mike. Mangle held back a laugh as she watched Jeremy claw at the air in his sleep before licking his pillow. "Aw Jeremy," Mangle said softly "You can't eat a pillow."
"I thought that you were going to wake them." Foxy said playfully as adjusted his tie for the fifth time. Foxy didn't mind being human, in fact he loved it. But he didn't understand why he had to wear this tie thing. Still he didn't question it too much, after all today was Mike's graduation and if a tie made the day a little better for him he wouldn't question it too much. "So, are you hoping to wake them by staring at them?"
"No…" Mangle began. "But they look so relaxed and peaceful. It would be such a shame to wake them so early."
"Shame or not the boys have to get ready," Foxy clapped his hands together loudly. "Alright boys, day lights a wasting. Up at at them."
The boys groaned but didn't move.
"Come on sweeties' it's time to wake up." Mangle said gently. "You two have a big day."
"Nooooo" Jeremy moaned "I don't want to volunteer."
"It'll be good for you." Foxy said impatiently as he pulled the blankets off of the boys. "Someone has to hand out snacks to the graduates. Now up!"
"Five minutes" Mike said in a sleepy tone that made Mangle's robotic heart mealt.
"Nope" Foxy said with a smile as he grabbed Mike's ankles and dragged him off of his bed. "Come on, Chica made you breakfast and everything."
Mike groaned once more as he was dragged off of his bed, "Mangle, help tell Foxy five more minutes."
"Eh" Mangle began as she tried to put one of coil like limbs on Foxy's shoulder. "They won't be late if they sleep for just a little bit."
Foxy snorted "You've ever seen these two in the morning? They move slower than a snail that's glued to a table." With one last tug Foxy successfully got the first teen out of bed. "Alright you landlubbers, enough of this."
Mike moaned once more before finally getting up though his brother only further retreated into his bed. "Nooooo" Jeremy begged half heartedly. "It's early, and cold."
"Cold?" Foxy chuckled as he slowly brought a pitcher of water from behind him. "Interesting complaint."
A second later Jeremy let out a scream that ran through the entire house and could even be heard in pirates cove. It was loud enough that even Felix waddled in just to make sure everyone was okay.
"Why!" Jeremy cried out. He flailed in his bed for a little bit before actually getting up. Jeremy gruntted as Mangel handed him a towel and shuffled off into the bathroom. "You're mean!" He shouted as he closed the bathroom door.
"That was a little mean." Mangle said as she began to pull Jeremy's soaked sheet off of his bed. "You could have hurt him."
Foxy rolled his eyes "Mangle, humans are waterproof, or their skin is. Any way water can't hurt them unless it's boiling hot. And that water was fresh from the sink."
"But what if he slipped and hurt himself." Mangle began as she tossed the wet sheets into the dirty laundry hamper. "Or what if the water gets him sick. Or what if-"
"Mangle!" Foxy said as he grabbed Mangle's face, only to realize a second later how awkward it was. "Jeremy is not made of paper. He will live."
"No I won't" Came a pathetic sounding voice from the bathroom. "I'm dying, uh, I see the light. It's so shiny."
Before Foxy could say anything Mangle rushed into the bathroom. "See I told you." Mangle gasped as she held Jermey tightly as the teen brushed his teeth. "He should stay home-"
"Today is Mike's graduation." Foxy said as he crossed his arms. "It's a very important day and we're all going to do what we can to make it special. Jeremy is going and he will help hand out drinks to the graduates or he'll get another splash of water."
Mangle flicked Foxy leaving Jeremy to continue to get ready. "Alright, I hear you, and I know I'm going. Mike promised me a cupcake after words."
"Only if you keep quiet." Mike said mindlessly as he finished fixing his hair. "Let's go, there gona give some fancy bagels to the first 100 people who get there."
"Why are they fancy?" Foxy asked. "Isn't a bagel just dense bread with cream cheese."
Mike shrugged "Don't know but I kind of want to know why." He tossed Jeremy a shirt. "Let's go"
"Oh sure" Foxy said in an annoyed tone. "Now you want to rush."
*(*(
It didn't take long for the boys to leave for the ceremony, once the boys actually realized that they'd be late if they hadn't left once they did. Not that it mattered much to Felix who couldn't understand why he was being rushed around in his stroller. Still Felix liked when people pushed him quickly, he found it exciting. Though as his father slowed down Felix was disappointed when he was taken out of his comfortable stroller and placed him on his bony lap. Felix usually didn't care if his father was fleshy or metal, but at least when his father was metal there'd be a bit of soft fur between the metal join to create a soft place to sit. Naturally Felix wined to show his displeasure only to have his father stuff a binky into his mouth.
"I know little potato, it's hot, and this probably won't be very fun but it's important. So you have to be good."
Felix didn't completely understand what his father was saying and really didn't care. He had his binky and was currently satisfied.
Foxy sighed as he waited for the ceremony to start. Already it was much hotter than he had anticipated and as he looked around at the crowd he only saw a few other males that were dressed in similar uncomfortable suits. "Dam Puppet" He whined silently "He said everyone had to wear a suit." In his state of annoyance Foxy didn't notice as a rather large group made their way to him until they all sat down. "Um, excuse me, those seats are being saved."
From the group of people a man brown haired in a top hat sat next to Foxy. "I know, thanks for saving them for us."
Foxy felt himself jump back just a tad as he looked at all the people in the group before smiling. "Not bad Marionette. Not bad at all."
*(*(*
In all honestly Mike never really had any bad feelings towards his school. The teachers for the most part seemed to care, the kids weren't terrible to each other, and there had always been some kind of cool field day every month or so. For the most part Mike knew that he'd miss his school and college just wouldn't be the same. Still it wasn't until this moment in time that Mike had anything against his school.
"Why are there so many people." Mike groaned "They're taking forever to call everyone's name!"
"Mike suck it up!" Sparta said clearly annoyed "We're all hot and sticky and these gold cap and gowns look ugly and-"
"Okay guys" Luke said as she gave Sparta's shoulders a light rub. "We get it, we're all cranky. But if it makes you feel better Stacy's mom is throwing a huge party tonight."
Sparta and Mike both nodded though Sparta leaned in to Luke's hands just a little bit more. If there was one thing that every person who attended their high school knew it was that Stacy Queen's mother threw the most epic parties ever. It made sense due to the fact that Stacy's mother was a well known event coordinator that even ran shows for starts in LA. It cooled the boys down just a bit, though not nearly as much as when Jeremy made his way down the aisles with cold drinks.
"I love that little dude." Sparta said as he saw Jeremy nearly make his way towards their aisle.
Mike chuckled softly. "Your just saying that cause he's about to give you some water."
"Na!" Sparta said defensively. "He's a funny little thing...and he's kind of cute." He looked at Mike expecting some kind of eye roll at his usual hint of a crush but instead Sparta was met by a death glare. Sparta had known Mike long enough to guess that Mike would never fight someone for a crush, and he nervously laughed. "What he's your long lost brother or something?"
Mike felt his heart skip a beat for just a second before he calmed down. He knew he couldn't tell his friends the truth, at least not on graduation day. "He's my cousin." Mike lied.
"Whoa really?" Sparta and Luke asked at the same time. "I thought you said you didn't have any other family."
"Look it's a long story-"
"Dude, they're going to take like another ten minutes just going threw the names before they even get close to us. Just give us the short version. "Luke demanded
Mike sighed, just as Jeremy was coming by with the water. "Thirsty?" Jeremy asked sweetly, this earned him a flirtatious smile from Sparta and surprisingly from Luke as well.
"Yes please" They both answered as they giggled and fidgeted in their seats.
Once Jeremy was out of earshot Sparta and Luke looked at eachother with seductive eyes. "I'm so gonna hit that."
"Guys!" Mike hissed "Not cool"
"Then tell us." Luke said as she adjusted her cap.
"Remember the baby Beth had just before she died?"
The two nodded
"Well a few months ago the Father...got into contact with me. That's why I haven't been home all that much. I've been staying with him and his ...family." Mike looked at the crowd, quickly spotting Foxy on one of the bleachers. "That's him" Mike said as he pointed Foxy out.
Luke's hands flung to her mouth. "And the baby on his lap, is that…"
Mike nodded "Yeah" He said with a smile. "That's Felix, Beth's son."
Sparta briefly looked towards the bleacher before asking, "Did you punch the son of a bitch for taking the baby any?"
Mike nodded "Yeah, it was awesome."
Sparta nodded in approval. "And Jeremy is related to that guy?"
Again Mike nodded "Yep, they're cousins or something." He turned to both of them with a serious look. "Jeremy is family, so if you could be so kind as to not try and seduce him in front of me that be great."
"Fine by me." Luke said as she leaned back in her chair.
Sparta only chuckled, "I make no such promises." When he was met by a swift jab to his arm he quickly added "but I'll try"
Mike sighed but for the most part was content. Before long his row finally made their way to the stage and one by one each student went up the steps. As they called Mike's name he looked up just in time to see Jeremy and Foxy sitting side by side clapping for him. Mike couldn't deny that it felt good to see even two people in a crowd of people that were there just for him. In fact as Mike walked off the stage he knew that having Foxy and Jeremy there made this day just a bit more special.
Just as Mike was walking down the steps however he couldn't help but notice that neither Foxy or Jeremy was holding Felix. Instead a woman with bright white hair sitting next to Foxy was. At first Mike thought that Foxy or Jeremy just made a friends in the crowd until he noticed a man with dark brown hair wearing a top hat sitting next to a blonde lady in a yellow dress who sat next to a man with purple hair. Mike felt his heart skip a beat as he looked at the row below them with another man with a top hat, only he had lighter brown hair, who sat next to a man with blue hair, who was sitting next to a thin blond woman with a pink dress. "Oh no" Mike muttered As he noticed an extremely pale man with purple eyes watching him with a smile. "God dammit Marionette" Mike thought silently as he sat back in his chair.