"Okay. So are we going with Rose Pink 34 or Poppy Pink 57?" Millie stared at the rows upon rows of pink oil-based paints, holding her messenger bag in front of her. Bon-Bon peeked out from beneath the flap, his lilac eyes contemplative. They already had metal paint primer and Cream Puff White 72 in the basket, along with a variety of specialty brushes.
"I think the Poppy Pink matches the best," Bon-Bon finally answered, ears clicking as they poked out of the bag. "And don't forget we need a good gloss finish too. Freddy'll be grumpy if we don't match everything up just right!"
Millie grumbled. "He didn't mind being all ugly and dull for months before. These bright colors hurt my eyes."
Bon-Bon chuckled as she began piling the paint bottles into the cart, ducking back down into her bag. "Well that was before you got him a mirror!"
Millie grunted as she hefted her pack back over her shoulder, puffing with the effort of carrying Bon-Bon in the already large bag. At this rate, she'd have the shoulders of a linebacker. "Worst mistake of my life."
The repairs had been going smoothly after Millie began working more directly with the animatronics. Funtime Freddy had been a lot more amiable after the discussion over her mourning necklace, and was a little less "Wouldn't it be fun if I cut your head off?" and a little more "Wouldn't it be fun if I annoyed you to death?"
Millie had to admit she'd been having fun. Especially when Bon-Bon showed her how manipulating different sets of wires affected the different parts of Freddy's articulation, resulting in a very delightful game of making the bear hit himself in the face. She and her grandfather had been working dutifully on finishing the project, and with the animatronics' help, Millie had been able to more accurately pinpoint problem areas and then handle them appropriately. Her grandfather had been impressed, and she'd be lying if she said she wasn't impressed with herself too.
The biggest issue they had now was finishing up Freddy's legs and repairing or replacing a few plates of metal on his hide. Grandpa was still waiting on the new load bearers, pistons and plates to be shipped through the mail, so he gave Millie the go-ahead to start on Funtime Freddy's new paintjob from the hips up, sans the plating that needed to be changed.
And now, Millie found herself in a local craft store, poring over walls of paints with Bon-Bon hidden away in her pack and providing his usual grade-a insight. Funtime Freddy had insisted that Bon-Bon go with her in his stead, as his proper color palette was of the utmost importance. "Some of us actually care about color, Burnt Pudding," He had griped as he looked her up and down, black from head to toe.
Millie did have to admit it was a lot more entertaining with Bon-Bon there though. And since so much of Freddy's old paint had either been scrubbed, peeled or faded away, she was a little excited to see what he looked like nice and fresh.
She turned into the next aisle, searching for a wall of magenta, and found herself lost in thought. Her doctor had lowered her dose of Trintellix by a few milligrams a couple of days ago, and she found herself ruminating more and lingering on thoughts as a result. Not that it was necessarily a bad thing, since she was able to sleep better at night now that the stimulant effects of the medication were lessened. Even so, she was still making time to go out to the workshop and talk to her robotic companions. There was less talking with Bon-Bon about nightmares and paranoia now (courtesy of Prazosin and therapy, and definitely not allowing herself more perspective as she warmed up to Freddy. Not at all.) and more talking about her day, robotics, and sleuthing through articles about various scandals and mysteries that formed a web, with Fazbear Entertainment right at its center.
"Millie! Hey, Millie!"
Millie nearly jumped out of her skin, checking to make sure Bon-Bon was hidden before turning to meet the voice she had come to know so well. "Brooke! Hey, what are you doing here?" She hadn't expected to see anyone she knew on her brief trip here, and had simply tied her hair back in a messy high ponytail and donned the all-black bat patterned jumpsuit that she wore while working on repairs, streaks of rust and lubricating oils stained across the front. She was more than a little embarrassed to be running into Brooke of all people when she was such a mess.
"Hey. I've been working on some crocheting in my spare time, and was just browsing for some good yarn. I didn't think I'd see you here!" Brooke beamed, cheerful as usual, as she peered into Millie's basket. "Oh, are those for the bear?"
Millie nodded. "Yeah, I've been trying to get the colors just right. And then I have to get a few more for the rabbit hand puppet too."
She felt herself flush-she hadn't seen Brooke without Dylan often, though most notably at their sleepover. Millie had felt like an anxious wreck the entire time there too, even though she had found herself giving way to bright fits of laughter and a sweet sense of peace as they laid down to sleep together on Brooke's lushly carpeted floor after a horror movie marathon. She remembered the smell of ever so slightly burnt popcorn and the vanilla scented candles in Brooke's bedroom and felt her chest twist up. It had been one of the best nights of her life.
Brooke smoothed her blonde waves out of her face and smiled. "That's awesome. You'll have to text me some pictures again, okay? He's looking so cute!"
Millie couldn't hold back her own smile now. It was just like Brooke to think something as...bizarre as Freddy was cute. "Yeah, well, his colors are gonna be all garish and pink just like you, so I think you'll like him even more once he's painted."
Brooke's eyes twinkled. "Definitely. I can't wait to see. Anyways, I've gotta run! My mom's waiting in the car so I don't want to take too long. I'll catch you later, Millie!" She waved, the handbasket full of black, purple and pink coils of yarn bouncing at her hip.
"See ya." Millie waved back, watching Brooke and her flouncing maxi skirt trounce around the corner of the aisle and disappear. She sighed. Even after how horrible she had acted, Brooke and Dylan had been nothing but kind. She had steadily felt the sharp edge of jealousy fade into the soft hills of friendship, and found herself only wanting to spend more and more time with her new friends. She would've never dreamed that she would've become so close to the "blonde and basic" pretty girl, but there was a lot more to Brooke than she had previously thought. Just like there was more to Funtime Freddy and Bon-Bon.
"Was that Brooke?" Bon-Bon squeaked, peeking an eye out from the flap of the bag. "She really does seem nice! I'm glad you have good friends like that, Millie."
Millie blushed, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, well…" She caught herself, and softened. "Me too. Now let's hurry up and finish. I don't know how I feel leaving Freddy all alone for this long without you there."
XXX
"I can't write a paper about torture in the Roman Empire." Millie huffed, glaring at the animatronic bear. "Plus, I don't think I can credit you as a credible source."
"What are you talking about?!" Funtime Freddy exclaimed. "You'll have the most exciting paper of the bunch! The phenomenon of damnatio ad bestias is an excellent topic. Then you can throw in a bit of wheel breaking and boating to keep it fresh."
"I don't even begin to want to know what boating is." Millie wrinkled her nose. She had been assigned to write a paper on some aspect of culture of the Roman Empire, and of course Funtime Freddy couldn't resist dishing out every crumb of torture-based knowledge he had about it.
"It truly is deplorable. Something I don't think even I would consider, but that's mostly due to the smell. Maybe it is a bit too mature for a bunch of little school children... But you'll definitely have to write about the beast pits. Such a rich history of them! Truly, I think human society would be better off if you brought them back. There'd be a lot less convicts, that's for sure!" His voice was remarkably cheerful despite the subject matter, per usual.
Millie sighed. "I think that's a topic for my ethics class, Freddy…" She laid on her stomach on the floor a few feet away from him, chewing thoughtfully on the end of her pencil. She had been camped out here with a canister of leftover soup and a bottle of soda since her grandfather was at some old-person-reunion thing.
She had discovered weeks ago that Bon-Bon and Funtime Freddy were wonderful assistants for her homework, namely history and math, which was wonderful since those were the two subjects she sucked the most at. They were both especially helpful with math, which Bon-Bon surmised was a result of their AI-their entire existence was the result of mathematical equations, and so the language of numbers was natural for them. While it was still wildly difficult for her, she found herself struggling much less, and feeling a lot more comfortable with the subject.
However, she mostly turned to Bon-Bon for help with it though, since Funtime Freddy was more preoccupied with jeering at her mathematical ineptitude than helping her. With history, he was much more interested in assisting though, dumping loads of information on her that made it far easier to write her essays and finish her projects. If there was even an inch of room to add torture into it, he was gushing like one of Curt Carrion's groupies. She had to admit he really was an utter bastion of knowledge, and while she feared that her teacher would report her grisly themed works out of concern, Millie was definitely enjoying the improvement to her grades.
"Oh, human ethics are such a mess." Funtime Freddy surmised. "Bad things happen, and you cannot stop them no matter how much you all pretend to be pure and good these days. Blood is written into your very history. C'est la vie!"
"Sure," Millie grunted. "I'll make sure to tell the police that."
"The police are rotten, sunshine." Funtime Freddy eyebrows raised. "Often the worst and bloodiest of all!"
"Well, I can agree with that." She snorted, beginning to tire of looking down at her blank paper. "Hell, I can't think of anything else to write that won't be what everyone else is doing. Start dishing it out, Freddy." She pulled out her phone, preparing to find websites to use as sources in her works cited page even though she'd only be listening to the animatronic.
"Oh goody, Silly Millie!" Funtime Freddy gushed, his faceplates swinging open and clicking back and forth the way they did whenever he was excited. "I knew you'd see it my way! And don't forget, after this, you said you'd let me show you how to win at cards. You're going to thank me when you start gambling once you're older."
The corner of Millie's lips quirked up in a slight smile, even if it was harder to imagine herself much older. Funtime Freddy was almost cute, or at least he'd be if the excitement wasn't about torture. The time she had been spending in close quarters with him had really helped her realize that...Bon-Bon was right. Funtime Freddy was programmed differently than her, and it wasn't just that he was an AI in a metal suit and she was a human brain in a meat suit. Learning the way he worked, both physically and mentally, had opened her up to the concept that Bon-Bon had brought up to her weeks ago now. There was more than meets the eye when it came to the animatronics, and she was feeling more assured by the promise as every day went by.
She even almost forgot the lingering threat of the endoskeleton from the cemetery and the dark feeling of survivor's guilt that hung over her heart sometimes. But never quite completely, even when she laughed and jeered and joked around with the robots, her friends, or her grandfather. Never completely.
She set to taking notes as Funtime Freddy began his speech on damnatio ad bestias, the bear gesticulating excitedly as he talked. Bon-Bon swung around with his arm, his own arms crossed and ears swiveling as he swung through the air. He was quiet and satisfied, listening to his two best friends joke and banter as he was jostled about.
Millie was thankful he was a robot though, because she could feel herself getting motion sickness just from watching Funtime Freddy twirl him about.
She chuckled to herself, drawing a little skull in the corner of her paper as Funtime Freddy drawled on. Where she had once found his shrill voice annoying, she now heard delight and excitement.
She really had started seeing a lot of things differently.
XXX
"Hey Mom, Dad." Millie shyly brushed her bangs out of her eyes, waving at the computer screen.
Her parents waved back at her, both of them sunburnt and smiling. "Hey there, Millicent!" Her mother beamed. "Oh, how I miss you so much!" Her mother had long black hair and a pointed chin just like she did, but her father had her brown eyes and downturned mouth.
"I told you not to call me that," Millie griped, but her tone was easy and playful.
"We can't help it, sweetheart," Her father chuckled. "It's a pretty name for a pretty little girl."
Millie huffed. "I'm turning fifteen in a few weeks, I'm not little anymore!"
"You'll always be my girl," Her mother said sweetly. "And you can expect a fun package coming in for your birthday!"
"I'm sorry we can't be there," Her father frowned. "But Grandpa is gonna make it special, huh?"
"Righty-o!" Grandpa flashed a thumbs up. "We're going to go out bowling and then have a little get together with her friends at the house. I was hoping to have the old bear fixed up by then so he could sing her a little song, but I don't know if we'll make it there by then!"
Millie cast a glance over to Funtime Freddy and Bon-Bon in the corner, smirking. Though they were motionless, she could feel them watching. Grandpa had wanted to show her parents their project over video-chat today, and she was sure that both of the robots were captivated by her parents as much as her parents would be captivated by then.
It was also Dylan's idea to go bowling-he said a bit of competition would be fun, and had an easy time ruffling Millie's feathers with the challenge. Usually she spent her birthdays sulking around by herself, but this was one she was now actually looking forward to. She even found herself wishing her parents could be there too, as clingy and annoying as they were.
"Speaking of the bear, how's he coming along?" Her father asked. "I always liked those old robots."
"Not me!" Her mother laughed. "They always scared me when I was young." She stopped, smiling apologetically. "But I'm sure you've made him look great, Millie!"
Millie snorted out a chuckle. "No, don't worry. They are freakish."
Grandpa turned the screen around to face the animatronic, his chest swelling with obvious pride. "There they are! Millie's been such a big help, and she's been working on the paint job all by herself!"
Millie smirked at the memory of Bon-Bon offering to help her before she reminded him that he didn't have fingers. That was likely the only time she had ever seen him be huffy. Losing herself in the strokes of primer and paint and gloss was infinitely relaxing-despite the bear's near constant rambling. Even that almost became something like white noise, more soothing than the heavy silence of her bedroom at night.
"Wow, Millie, that's looking amazing!" Her parents gushed at her handiwork. "I'm going to have to start calling on my own daughter for fix-it jobs instead of myself!" Her dad clapped his hands together in delight.
"Let's be honest, honey. You were never much of a mechanic in the first place!" Her mother leaned on his shoulder laughing, her smile simply glowing.
Millie wished she could reach into the computer and let them wrap her up in their arms. She really did miss them, and was looking forward to them coming home in the fall. Even across the globe, they were still supporting her and helping her through therapy. She used to be so embarrassed of her goofy, happy-go-lucky parents, but now she couldn't imagine herself wanting anything more.
"Thank you," Millie said. "I've actually really been enjoying working on them."
"Her therapist has said the exposure therapy has been doing wonders, and keeping her hands busy has been a great coping mechanism." He smiled down proudly at her. "She's been doing truly wonderful."
Millie felt herself glow. She had been doing good.
"And she's even been inspiring me!" Her grandfather pulled a small notepad out from his back pocket, mirth leaking out of all his pores. "She's shared a few of her poems with me, so I figured I'd write one of my own!"
"Oh my god." Millie already felt the secondhand embarrassment crawling over her skin.
"Well let's hear it!" Her dad clapped his hands, ecstatic.
"Here we go," Grandpa started, and it seemed to take everything she had for Millie's mother to not burst into zealous laughter.
"The sky is blue,
The fields are green,
And your cerulean eyes
Are the prettiest I've ever seen.
I wish with all my might,
And sing to every star,
For the rest of my life
To be where you are."
Millie's grandfather's smile was a bit more limp now, eyes misty. Without even thinking, Millie put a hand to his arm and squeezed. His poem was simple, sure, but it was sweet. She liked thinking of love like that. "That was really nice, Grandpa! I think you should write more."
"Absolutely!" Millie's mother beamed, her own eyes watering. "I bet Mom thinks that was beautiful, Papa."
"Thank you, ladies!" Grandpa sniffed, squeezing Millie's hand back. "I guess an old dog can learn some new tricks. And I have a few more up my sleeve too!"
"Let me guess," Millie's father tapped his chin. "Is this one about birds? Or cooking? Or screwdrivers?"
Grandpa faked a scowl. "How do you know me so well, boy?"
They all laughed then, and Millie didn't even flinch when she saw Funtime Freddy twitch slightly, unable to contain a bit of his own giggling. It felt, even if her life looked so much different from other people's, as if happiness was filling up every last inch of her world. Things would really be okay.
She could hardly believe that only a handful of months earlier that she had skulked through each day only wanting to die.
XXX
"You can do it, Freddy! Go go go!" Bon-Bon cheered, his usually soft voice sharp with excitement.
Millie's heart fluttered with a feeling somewhere between anxiety and anticipation. This was it… Months of work with Grandpa and endless nights in the workshop with the two living machines all came together for this moment. Would the animatronic finally walk?
And what would he do if he could?
Funtime Freddy braced himself with a single hand on the bench he always sat on, his metal plating shifting. His heavy feet pressed into the concrete and he came the closest to nervous that Millie thought she'd ever see.
Millie had spent the entire evening finishing the job on his legs up after spending the morning starting the job with her grandfather-fitting everything inside of Funtime Freddy's legs, connecting it to his wiring and air hosing, properly lubricating it, soldering the frayed connectors-it had been quite the task, but she hoped that the bear would be able to hold himself up properly now. In her excitement she seemed to forget her fears of being stalked by the murderous machine-and even now, she found herself wanting to see him step forward.
The circulation hoses in his body spurted out soft puffs of air through the gaps in his plating as he began to stand, his body a symphony of clicking and shifting as the load bearers and pistons in his legs were finally put to work.
Funtime Freddy rose off the bench with a heave.
He lifted a leg, his blue eyes glittering as he clumsily leaned forward…
And took a step.
Millie grinned from ear to ear, clapping her hands together. "Freddy! You're doing it!" Her heart felt like it might burst with pride. She and her grandfather had done this, with all their deft handiwork and careful studying, filling up the workshop with their laughter and poetry and stories as they worked. And now, all their work was coming to fruition. Coming to an end.
The animatronic grinned back, taking another clunky step forward. Then another. "I don't think I've ever seen you this excited before, lambchop! And you're not the one who was stuck immobile in a scrapyard for years!"
Millie hugged herself then as she laughed, trying to will the tears that had started to gather out of nowhere to stop. She didn't even know why she was crying-fear or elation? Her heart was so wonderfully light and so terribly heavy all at the same time. "Well," She sniffed. "You are the first project I've ever actually finished. I feel like I'm finally good at something. I guess."
Bon-Bon clapped his little paws together. Both him and Freddy gleamed with glossy new paint jobs, sparkling even in the dim light of the workshop. "Thank you so much, Millie! Now we can really get to business! And we can protect you even better!" He hadn't noticed the wet streaks on her face yet, too lost in his own elation.
Funtime Freddy hovered a few feet away from Millie. His faceplates excitedly clicked open and closed, flapping happily in time with his excitement. His steps were lumbering and heavy, but not graceless. He was a machine, and once all the parts were perfected and the mathematical equations solved, he would function with inhuman impeccability, a paragon of engineering.
He looked down at Millie, so small beneath his gaze, and opened his mouth as if to say something before closing it again. His head cocked as he looked at her, his steps finally coming to a stop. She looked back, her back straight and lips pursed.
After months and months of working on him, it was almost time for the end of Millie's freshman year and the beginning of summer, and now time for the next chapter of discovery. Investigation and pursuit. Millie swallowed hard. When would it be time for the promise to come to an end?
"You're good at plenty of things, Silly Millie." The bear said simply, his eyes rolling dramatically. "Look at what you've done with me. To discredit yourself is to discredit me, and we can't have that, cupcake!"
Millie smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.
Funtime Freddy's shoulders slumped at her lack of usual fire. "Wow, sunshine. I know angst is a part of your style, but you're killing the mood! We're going to need to cheer up before I lose my will to walk and just go back to slumping against the wall!"
Bon-Bon threw his little arms out with a flourish, his soft eyes locked with Millie's, projecting a kindness that was almost physical. She had grown used to the warmth, even if it came from cold metal. The existence of the animatronics was an oxymoron in general. "A song!"
"A song!" Funtime Freddy repeated. "Perfect." He swept his arms outward, twirling them and bending at the waist in a bow. "Millicent Fitzsimmons, as a thank you for allowing me to walk again, I will sing you a song!"
Millie couldn't help a snort. "What? Like twinkle twinkle little star?"
"Hmm, excellent choice, my dear!" He ignored her sarcasm completely, making a noise similar to a human clearing their throat.
"Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night."
Millie was surprised at how fitting his voice was for a lilting song despite its shrill quality-he at least knew how to pitch and harmonize. He was almost unsettling, but the twirls of his arms and tapping of his feet made it feel fanciful. The clicks and clacks of his metal plating, the subtle puffs of air from his circulation systems, the whirring of fans and vents-it all combined together into white noise that made the perfect backdrop for his little song. She soon found herself sitting in the desk chair, relaxed, chin on its back as she watched the bear happily perform. She smiled, truly, when Bon-Bon joined in with his melodic voice and began to harmonize with his partner, the two of them gazing at each other sweetly.
"Then the trav'ller in the dark,
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.
In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often thro' my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.
'Tis your bright and tiny spark,
Lights the trav'ller in the dark,
Tho' I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star."
Once they finished their little ditty, both of the robots bowed and Millie began to clap, humoring them. She could see how they would've been a hit with children. She realized her tears had dried, and scrubbed at her face where they had flowed with the back of her hand. "That was nice, guys. I never realized it was a full song."
"It's actually the full poem!" Funtime Freddy said. "I figured you would like it, Silly Millie. Even with the lack of tombstones or bats!"
Millie didn't have the heart to poke fun or banter tonight. "Thank you."
"How about another round?" Bon-Bon beamed.
"Only if you can sing Curt Carrion," Millie snickered.
Funtime Freddy sneered and brought a hand to his chest, preparing himself for a new melody. Millie mentally prepared herself for hearing Curt Carrion's genius lyrics come out of that.
Their little celebration lasted into the wee hours of the morning, long after Millie had decided on happiness rather than fear.
She knew now that that was what bravery truly was. Fear, and still tilting your chin up to the sky and smiling. It was just that her sky was an old workshop ceiling and twirling animatronic animals.
And at this point, it'd be boring if it were any other way.
XXX
Millie grinned as she shoved pizza into her face, not even caring that it smeared up her lipstick. Today she was fifteen and with all of her favorite humans, and nothing could possibly dampen the sheer delight of the day.
She had been secretly dreading the 'annoying' trip to the bowling alley, but it had ended up being an absolute delight-from the greasy pizzeria style pie to shrieking and squalling over bowling with her friends-it was a day to remember. Even if Grandpa beat the three of them all together. She had absolutely no idea how an old man with astigmatism was able to knock out three strikes in a row.
Plus, there was the black and purple iced cake that Brooke had made for her with a bit of assistance from Dylan-cutting into it revealed blood red and a hint of pastel pink frosting between the layers, since Brooke claimed the splash of pastel was representative of their friendship. "And looooooove!" She had cooed like a baby bird.
Millie would be lying if she said that this wasn't the perfect day. She had never felt herself smile and laugh this much, and had definitely never had people to share the feeling so intimately with. Her mind briefly flickered to her childhood friend Hannah-before she had deserted her for more popular, less weird models of friends back in middle school. She thought of the two of them smearing birthday cake on each other's faces when they were little more than toddlers, giggling and making a mess long before Millie had learned to be sad and insecure-and then she exhaled slowly like Ms. Keys had taught her to, looking to the friends she had in the present.
Brooke had a little bit of pizza sauce staining the corner of her smile as she nibbled daintily on some garlic bread, and Dylan was animatedly asking Grandpa about his projects, his firetruck red hair bobbing with his gesticulations. Grandpa in turn seemed to twinkle, pleased that someone was so interested in his hobbies and antiques.
Millie knew that these were friends who would never abandon her. And she'd do everything in her power to never drive them away again.
"Wanna do laser tag after this?" Brooke suddenly asked, grinning. "We could do boys against girls!"
"Oh yeah?" Dylan grinned, his braces glimmering like little gems in the blacklight. "Me and Gramps are gonna whoop your butts."
"I'll bet you my signed Cthulhu graphic novel," Brooke leaned across the table, her blonde waves nearly dipping into a small bowl of marinara sauce. "With a matching plushie!"
"And I'll bet you the new jet ring and pleather jacket my parents sent me," Millie added, smirking. She was confident in her ability to deal with Grandpa's slow gait and Dylan's poor eyesight in a dark laser tag maze.
Dylan grinned, glancing up at Grandpa. "What do you think, Gramps?"
"I think you girls are gonna regret this! I used to be an arcade champ, you know," Grandpa cracked his knuckles and winced.
Millie stuffed the last of her pizza in her mouth, having already eaten the crust first before working her way down to the triangular tip (much to Dylan's vocal dismay). "Bring it, old man."
After finishing their pizza, the small group was outfitted with their laser tag vests and given fluorescent green toy rifles. Brooke cocked out her hip and held her laser gun with one hand, trying her best to look intimidating despite her abundance of bows and frills. Dylan followed suit, mentioning something about Ruin Man, and Millie had to laugh. They all looked so dorky, especially Grandpa with his ill-fitting vest.
"I hope you find another jet ring soon," Dylan winked as he swept past Millie, knocking her playfully with his elbow.
"Dream on. Though I may just give it to you anyways since you'll be mourning over your loss."
"Ooo! Goth burn. Those hurt the worst." Brooke giggled, and Millie caught her hand in a high-five.
Millie tilted her head back and laughed, even leaning easily into the hug that Grandpa pulled her into. She realized her face actually ached from smiling so hard, and then remembered that her lipstick was smeared, and then that she didn't care at all. Not about pain, not about image, not about anything but winning the match.
"Happy birthday, Millie." Her grandfather said, holding her close. " It makes me so happy to see you happy, girlie. I love you so much."
"I love you too," She said genuinely, eyes warm. "But that won't stop me from hunting you down!"
XXX
Millie stood in the empty workshop, one of the leftover paper party hats Brooke had brought dangling from her hand.
She honestly wasn't even scared-just confused. Where had the animatronics gone? What were they doing? Would they come back?
She frowned, almost scratching her head. Funtime Freddy had only been able to walk for less than a week now, and was still adjusting to all the repairs. She knew he had been restless, but she hadn't expected him to just get up and leave.
She plopped down at Grandpa's desk and huffed. "Dang." She wondered if they were gone for good, or if they'd come back. Then she chastised herself for thinking of that rather than if they'd be stalking her, hiding away in her closet back in the house…
"Oh, birthday giiiiiiiiirl!"
Millie shot out of her chair fast as a rocket when the workshop door slammed open and a familiar sing-song screech interrupted her thoughts. She whipped around and gasped, clutching a hand to her chest. "Freddy! What the hell is wrong with you?!"
The large animatronic walked inside with a flourish, clearly pleased with himself. "Sorry, cupcake! I'm just excited!" He walked up to her, and she steeled her nerves as he leaned down, put a massive hand between her shoulders and steered her forward.
Bon-Bon guided his opposite arm down, his little paws patting Millie's back and his face apologetic. "Happy birthday, Millie! I'm terribly sorry if we gave you a fright, we just wanted to surprise you!"
"Well you certainly surprised me." She grumbled, twisting away from Funtime Freddy's hand and standing to face them, hands on her hips. "Where did you two go? I don't like not knowing where you are. Also, don't touch me, Rustbucket."
"Always a treat to talk with you, sunshine!" Funtime Freddy drawled, his top-hat spinning jauntily atop his head. "And since it's your birthday, here's a treat for you!"
The door to his stomach cavity swung open, and Millie instinctively froze before quickly relaxing. Where she was once curled up while being sentenced to death, there was now a tiny white birthday cake, complete with sprinkles and a slightly smeared 'Happy Birthday Jeremy' message written in icing. It was still in plastic casing, as if it had come from a grocery store.
Millie laughed, shaking her head. "What the… Where did you get that?"
Funtime Freddy's ears clicked back and forth happily. "Do you like it, Silly Millie?"
"We found it outside a grocery store, discarded in those big metal dumpster tins. We were looking for a little gift for you… And this was perfect!" Bon-Bon cooed hopefully, his own ears echoing Freddy's clicking.
Millie blinked. "Well, it's certainly something." Her mother always did tell her it was the thought that counts. "Thank you guys. This is actually really sweet." And honestly, the thought was really nice. Since they were robots, they surely had no idea how gross dumpster cake really was.
"Of course it's sweet! It's vanilla!" Funtime Freddy crooned, leaning forward. "Now come on, try it!" He was nearly vibrating with excitement-or on second thought, he literally was.
Millie gulped, laughing nervously. "Well, I did just get back from my party with the other uh...humans. And I'm pretty stuffed. But I'd be happy to take it inside with me when I go back."
"Oh." Funtime Freddy slumped, nodding in understanding. "I see." Bon-Bon sagged down as well. Shadows seemed to cross over the two of them, until even Millie's glossy paint-job seemed dull.
I'm really about to eat dumpster cake. For this dumb nightmare bear and his puppet. Geez.
Millie sighed with defeat. "Ugh. Bring it over. I'm not going in there." She rolled her eyes as the pair cheered with triumph, digging through the desk drawer to find her grandfather's stash of plastic silverware for quick lunches in the workshop. She held the little plastic spork over her head like a weapon as Funtime Freddy stumbled boorishly by, slapping the cake on the desk with a flourish. He stood next to Millie, practically radiating anticipation, only moving back when she gave him The Glare.
She groaned as she popped the plastic casing open, thankful that it seemed to have not been opened after it was sealed in whatever bakery they found it discarded from. With little ceremony, she dug right in with the spork, deciding she had definitely eaten worse things at Grandpa's dinner table, and took a bite.
"Hm." She smiled. Vanilla was always a classic. "Not bad."
Bon-Bon clapped. "Oh, wonderful! Happy birthday, Millie dear."
Funtime Freddy klutzily hopped from foot to foot, a serious concern since he had only been able to walk for such a short time and the heavy movement made Millie's knees hurt. "It's been so long since we've been to a birthday party, Bon-Bon! So long!"
"See, Freddy?" Bon-Bon smiled, petting his arm. "I told you. Aren't birthdays just wonderful? Even if it's hard to remember, we can create new memories. And make new friends." He gestured towards Millie, who's cheeks were flushed and stuffed full of dumpster cake.
"Yes!" Funtime Freddy nodded fervently. "Good. And we can't have a little shindig without a song!"
Millie moaned, licking some sprinkles from her lips. Always with the songs. She moved into the chair, leaning back as she ate, her body still buzzing with the sugar she had been stuffing herself with all day. She smiled as Bon-Bon and Funtime Freddy sang out the classic Happy Birthday song, complete with twirls, bows, clapping and plenty of flair.
Watching the two of them, Millie realized this was the first birthday in a very long time that she could say she had enjoyed. That she was glad she was celebrating she had been born.
"Hey, Freddy?" She asked, her voice smaller than usual.
"Yes, birthday girl?" Funtime Freddy cooed to her.
"Could you sing me another song?" And even though she was another year older, she felt so much younger than she had in a long time.
"Anything for the birthday girl!" Funtime Freddy winked.
And the workshop was filled with a shrill, yet effortlessly warm, melody once more.
XXX
Millie found herself at The Yeast We Could Do-a new pizza place that had opened up earlier in the year-with Brooke and Dylan sitting across from her as they split a perfectly greasy cheese pizza. With only a week left of school, Brooke had wanted to get together and talk about summer.
...Which Millie wasn't too terribly sure about, being as she knew that she would need to start actively figuring out the endoskeleton at the cemetery and its connection to the other tragedies now that Freddy was properly mobile. She also needed to keep a better eye on him now too-even though they had started warming up to each other, she still couldn't bring herself to be at ease around him. And summer meant not being around other people as much, which didn't lend her any confidence.
"So, I actually have some good news, guys." Dylan smiled, pushing his glasses up his nose. "I've been keeping something from you two so it would be a surprise." His chest swelled with pride before his face split into an immense grin. "So, since I turned sixteen earlier this year, my brother has been teaching me how to drive. And I passed my driver's test!"
"No way!" Brooke squealed, clapping her hands together. "That's so cool, Dylan! I'll have to bake you a congratulations cake!" She leaned over and planted a modest kiss on his cheek.
Millie had to keep herself from cringing at the affection. She loved her friends, but...jeez. "You'd use any excuse for sweets." She smirked. "But congratulations, Dylan. That's actually really awesome. Too bad you don't have a car."
"Ah ah ah, that's where you're wrong, my dear!" He was unequivocally pleased with himself. "My brother said he would loan me his old truck if I'm careful, since the car he's been working on is finally finished. So you know what that means-"
"We can have summer adventures! And go to the library without pestering my mom!" Brooke exclaimed.
"Exactly!" Dylan nodded. "And I was thinking… Maybe we can check out some haunted spots and stuff."
Millie perked up. After everything that had happened, she hated messing with that stuff. But what if…
"We mentioned some scary things we had heard about before." Dylan continued. "Like the girl that fell apart into mechanical junk and then showed up at school the next day. Sounds pretty spooky. I was thinking maybe we could investigate stuff like that, or urban exploration, and do something like a blog on DeadLog or something. Maybe we could find people to talk to, or since my mom knows a police officer, we could use that to our advantage! She's trying to get a job as an operator at the department down here too, so maybe that could help us out even more!"
Millie winced. The idea of just walking up to people and talking to them, especially about this stuff, seemed excruciating. So did exploring spooky abandoned places. It was fun in books, but real life? Not so much. But she could use her research of Fazbear Entertainment and all her suspicions to encourage Dylan… And then they could use his car and his mother's connection to the police department, and she wouldn't just have to be alone with Funtime Freddy while she investigated. She wasn't sure what would come after, but she'd feel a lot safer with her two human friends.
Then guilt licked through her like fire. She didn't want to use her friends just because she was a coward. And she certainly didn't want to drag them in to the mess her secret life had become. She was being selfish and uncaring, per usual.
"Millie? Are you okay?" Brooke had reached across the table, her fingers brushing Millie's wrist.
Millie swallowed, warming at the touch. She wasn't a bad person-she had to remember that. She was just scared. "Yeah. I'm just...worried. Are you sure that it would be safe to do that?"
Dylan chuckled, but not cruelly. "Aw, Millie. With all the horror and mystery you read, I figured you'd be off your chair excited! But I get it." He reached over, taking her other hand. "I promise we'll be safe. At the first sign of something weird, we're out, and we'll call an adult. But what's life without a little mystery? It'll be fun!"
Brooke nodded. "It'll be really awesome! And I'm sure we won't go too far anyways!"
Millie sighed. She wasn't using her friends-she was taking advantage of opportunity. Still, her stomach felt as if a lead weight had been dropped into it. "As long as we're safe and have backup plans. Plus, I still need to talk to my grandpa about it."
"Yeah, we'll have to talk to our parents too. Probably will soften up exactly what we're doing, make it seem more grade school." Dylan said sheepishly. "No need for them to know exactly what we're doing until we're famous ghost hunters! Plus, your Grandpa loves me. And Brooke's parents do too! I'm sure we'll be fine."
Millie tried to internalize his words. Everything would be fine.
She smiled despite the anxiety curling up inside her chest, seemingly to stay.
XXX
Funtime Freddy stretched out his arm, flexing each of his metal fingers one by one. He looked pleased, and then turned to Millie. "I think I'm in tip-top shape now, Silly Millie! Not a thing to complain about, except for your attitude!"
Bon-Bon rubbed his little red cheeks happily. "Yes! We truly do feel amazing, Millie. You and your grandfather have done a wonderful job. And you've learned so much too!"
"Yeah, math doesn't give me a migraine anymore, just a headache." She grumbled. "And my hands are eternally raw from scrubbing away at rust."
"Be kinder to yourself!" Bon-Bon chastised, though his voice was sweet as usual. "You've done some amazing engineering work, your grades have gotten better, and dare I say your poetry has even improved!"
Millie smiled, feeling herself straighten a little. Bon-Bon always had that effect on her.
"Her understanding of color theory sure hasn't though!" Funtime Freddy laughed to himself.
Millie rolled her eyes, faking a gagging motion. And Funtime Freddy always had that effect on her. Contrast was the spice of life.
"I have a perfect understanding. I just don't like blinding white." She huffed.
"Well, some people would say blinding white is the color of angels. Fitting, since I've helped so many meet them!" Funtime Freddy said cheerfully. "Now, speaking of that, what is our next step now that you have enabled me to walk again?"
It had been a long and arduous set of months, but it seemed that Funtime Freddy was fully functioning now, and he looked the part too. Millie and her grandfather had worked tirelessly to both obtain new parts and to repair the old ones, and to make the old machine able again. They had grown closer during the project, and Millie couldn't deny she had grown closer to the two animatronics as well. She supposed the exposure therapy her doctor had mentioned really did work…and so did the Dialectical Behavioral Therapy skills she had been learning. Funtime Freddy and Bon-Bon were different from her, and she had learned to understand and work with that. Plus, Dumpster Birthday Cake.
And now, the future lay open before them.
"Well, I'm thinking I can bring a few things I've found up to Dylan and see what he says, and then we can investigate. His mom has a friend with the police, so maybe he can find out if any private detectives have seen or heard of anything like the endoskeleton in the cemetery. And then...we can follow the trail. See where it leads."
"Hm. Usually, I like having more of a plan, but I suppose it can't be helped." Funtime Freddy mused. "That is as good as anything. And we will be helping as well."
Bon-Bon nodded in agreement. "Yes! Now we can move more, so we'll be able to keep a better eye out-better than just using proximity sensors. And we can help with the investigations."
"Ah, yes, it has been good to walk again." Funtime Freddy tapped his clunky feet on the floor, emphasizing the point. "So much fun to prowl about at night like we used to, back in the old days!" His eyes rolled excitedly about in his head, settling on Millie.
Millie stiffened, but kept her back straight, shoulders back. She stared right back.
Bon-Bon pet Funtime Freddy's arm, rubbing it back and forth. Millie thought it looked like he was trying to start a fire and chuckled to herself.
"Remember the birthdays, Freddy? Millie's birthday? What fun! It was so nice going out and finding her a present." He crooned. "Settle on down, and we can have even more fun adventures like that!"
Funtime Freddy looked thoughtful, then shrugged. "You're right, my little bunny. What fun! Perhaps we need a song to start off the next chapter of our adventure?"
Millie groaned. Dangerously murderous to dangerously annoying, all in a span of mere seconds.
He looked down at his hand, flexing his fingers once more. "I do miss my microphone though. Oh, how my voice would echo through the halls with it!"
"It didn't already?" Millie said, playfully surly.
"Silly Millie, I know you're my biggest fan! You're the best at playing pretend." The bear winked. "Anyways, onto the song! What would be good to start an adventure with?"
Millie smiled to herself. While the future was uncertain, she knew that she could count on Bon-Bon. And she knew, in some strange way, she could count on Funtime Freddy too. She remembered his massive pinky curled around her own, his finger pressed so gently against her mourning necklace, his happy laughter when he unveiled her birthday gift.
Though she feared him, she saw places full of trauma and danger become so much more, places of healing and happiness. She had experienced forgiveness.
It was obvious they were more than mere machines. And she believed that both of them were more than their programming, than numbers and equations and commands to hurt children. More than the twisted dreams of some horrible madman.
She believed there was hope here, etched into the walls of the workshop, and coiled around Funtime Freddy's wiring, scrubbed into his metal. Glowing in Bon-Bon's eternal smile and sweet voice, in her own growth and bravery.
That had to be worth more than the horrors and agony that bled across the history of Fazbear Entertainment. It had to.
She forced herself to breathe evenly as Funtime Freddy started out another one of his raucous melodies.
Tomorrow was another day.
A/N: What another fun chapter! I've been enjoying writing this timeskip chapters, as doing little "featurettes" of what is playing out over time is a lot of fun. I hope you guys are enjoying this development as much as I am! :) Thanks for tuning in! Also, a really wonderful anon over on tumblr made some amazing fanart of my fic! You can find it over chicatenders under my top posts, a submission from the anon. Truly an amazing treat! I love you so guys so much. ;3;