Chapter 4: Time Slipping

Kyle merely sighed as he looked towards Tyler walking by, "I take it tonight's the night, Charlie?" Kyle asked his friend, who merely nodded for Tyler and Foxy's benefit, "Alright then, we're your bait."

"I'm not-"

"Tyler, it's going after me. If I stay at home, Mom's at risk and that's a shitstorm we won't be able to stop. I'm not…Charlie says that it's not up to us anymore, something's changed, so I'm trusting in you. If you dare die, I'll bring you back in Foxy just to kill you again."

"Over my dead body, ye scallywag!" Foxy growled protectively while Charlie and Kyle shared a look.

"What name are you going to give him?" Charlie asked as Tyler shrugged helplessly.

"I don't have any real ideas at the moment, Foxy's just Foxy to me, I'll decide on a name when I come across one that fits him." Tyler explained as Charlie nodded.

"Makes sense, you only just now accepted Hosting Foxy."

"Guess now's the ma-" Kyle snarked as Tyler and Foxy both looked at him with death in their eyes. Charlie merely facepalmed in exasperation while Kyle rose his hands in surrender.

"Please continue before we strangle my little brother." Tyler stated simply to Charlie, who nodded without a second thought, much to Kyle's chagrin.

"You and Foxy were bonded, sure, but Hosting isn't as simple as saying you'll do the thing. It takes something called Compatibility. I don't know much about it personally, but it involves something to do with your souls and how willing you are to help us out. I think that due to your…experiences, the compatibility between you and Foxy was unusual and hard to situate correctly. You were still the highest score between all the possible Hosts, but it was rocky due to the hesitance that both of you had, which created a bond that strained incredibly easily and led to your struggles over the last month with each other. Now that you've accepted him into your heart and soul, well…" Charlie merely motioned towards the two as they shrugged in unison at each other.

"Two peas in a pod?" Kyle supplied as Charlie shook her head.

"More like clones." Charlie countered.

"The appearances are wrong for that, shouldn't it be-"

Tyler and Foxy merely deadpanned at the two before walking out as the two continued arguing. Tyler groaned in annoyance as Foxy smiled with a grin.

"Ready for some more stories with ye captain?"

"Sure." Tyler mirrored the grin while they walked towards Pirate's Cove. Honestly, it shocked Tyler a bit with how effortlessly he got added to the story time, to the point where the clock hours changed to include him in it within the last hour or so that he's been here, (Time's been seeming to fly, it's already noon? It was 5 when he left in a bit of a haze…or was it 6?) not even including how the kids and even parents accepted the fact he was there to stay in the show for the most part. He was practically born for the show despite not being that great of a story teller.

It just felt that whenever one of them would stumble, the other would be right there to pick them up, causing the stories to flow over and over again till both of them were losing track of when to end the stories and having to laugh nervously at the children when the hourly bell would ring.

Then again, business was booming as kids wanted to stay longer, and even adults wanted to stay longer to see what insanity they would think of next. It made Tyler and Foxy excited to just get back into that routine and inspire more kids to do great. Despite how the tales would be, they both did their best to try and put morals of helping each other out as well as not losing yourself in anger to the stories. Captain Foxy wasn't even always the protagonist anymore, sometimes he would show his not-so-great side and while corporate was worried it would make people think less of him, it turned out to have the exact opposite effect. More people than ever were loving Foxy due to the fact he wasn't perfect.

Sure, there were those that were a bit disappointed with those stories, but they would always perk up when Tyler and Foxy would bring Foxy back with a good redemption story or arc. It felt…natural in a way that couldn't truly be put in words outside of saying that they were one in that cove.

Tyler blinked as he realized that he was in said cove with Foxy, having lost himself in those good memories, much to Foxy's amusement. Tyler stared before coughing 'Pizza sauce', sending Foxy into a coughing fit from embarrassment as the memories of the Pizza Sauce incident filled their heads. Both of them were left with grins as Tyler made to turn the sign before noticing the line already starting to be made.

"He's open! Foxy's open!" The kids cheered as Tyler tried to hide the nervousness that was caused by that before feeling a wave of calm excitement fill him. Yeah, he wasn't alone, like hell he would fear the crowd!

"Welcome one and all to the tales of Captain Foxy and Private Tyler, learn all about their misadventures on the Seven Seas!" Tyler recited effortlessly with a wide grin as he turned the sign to Open before making sure the people came one by one until the space filled up. He turned the sign again as he had to regrettably inform them that they reached full capacity.

"Aw man!" One of the kids complained as Tyler walked up to him, "I-I wanted to see Captain Foxy!"

"I'm sure you'll be able to, little guy! Captain Foxy just only has room for so many people in his ship! You wouldn't want the ship to sink, would you?" Tyler asked as the kid's eyes widened at the thought.

"N-No! Captain Foxy can't be sunk like that! He took down the Kraken!" The kid said as Tyler grinned.

"Exactly! He can take down most anything, but his ship can only hold so much before those creatures get the best of him! Each time he takes you aboard, he's sharing that wisdom with you all so you can grow nice and strong to join his crew! If a mere private can join him for his journeys, I'm sure you can too!" Tyler informed as the kid looked to have sparkles in his eyes as his arms reached out towards Tyler.

"Yeah! I can grow too!" He grinned widely as his mom let out a sigh as Tyler got up to look towards her as she mouthed, 'Thank you.' to him. Tyler grinned and let out a wink before walking back into the tent, watching as the people made way for him. Foxy had a similar grin on his face as he lifted Tyler onto the stage.

"So, who's ready to hear about the time we took on the biggest whirlpool you've ever seen!?" Tyler heard Foxy ask as the kids shouted in glee.

"Woah, he's good." Kyle couldn't help but praise as he watched Pirate's Cove from the camera placed in the Pirate's Cove, this one being a request from Tyler with audio turned on. Tyler and Foxy looked like naturals as they traveled across the stage mocking the 'great battles' they went on, this one about a whirlpool that threatened to capside the ship to the depths that Foxy had to put his trust in the entirety of his crew - another one of their morals that he wanted inspire in the children - in order to steer the ship enough out of the way to get free.

Kyle watched, mesmerized by the sight as he remembered the bedtime stories that Tyler gave to Tommy and him suddenly, "You're not wrong, they're naturals," Charlie said with the same amount of awe, catching Kyle by surprise, "Most Hosts aren't as good with performances as the animatronics, such as you."

"Hey!"

"I'm not letting you near my drums after last time!" Charlie snapped back as Kyle pouted, "A-Anyways. Tyler is unusually good at this, even given your childhood had him grow up fast. Just how powerful is their compatibility?" Charlie asked no one in particular as Kyle shrugged.

"I never really remembered Tyler wanting to come here, but…I think…" Kyle blinked as a flash of yellow reached his sight. Something about…a new establishment, but as quickly as it came, it vanished from mind, "I think he's just always been this good at stories, he was tempted to go into writing but said that he rather the interactions." Kyle finished as Charlie looked far away for a moment before smiling.

"Who knows, might be the case." Charlie informed as Kyle shrugged, looking back at the screen to watch the story unfold as the two were fighting on the ship in what looked to be a fun sword fight between the two.

Charlie waited a while, making sure that Kyle was fully distracted before sighing. She would be lying if she said that the secret wasn't hurting their bond, but they promised that unless Kyle asks about it, Charlie can't tell him. He has to remember on his own, regardless of how long it takes. Charlie couldn't help but be jealous of Tyler and Foxy a bit with how pure that connection of theirs was. It was new, sure, but…it reminded Charlie so much of how it was with Kyle.

"You don't have to be jealous," Kyle said suddenly, still watching the story with apt attention, "I understand that I don't remember everything. Obviously, you and Tyler are hiding something important, but I know how our family is. We care too damn much about each other. If I have to remember first, then so be it, Charlie, I'll do my best to remember." Kyle told her simply.

"I-"

"I know," Kyle finally turned back with a smile, "I know, Charlie. I might not remember yet, but I know how you feel. You're scared of what's going to happen. You're scared that I won't remember. You're scared that you're fading away, aren't you?" Kyle spoke a tiny bit too knowledgeable for how he usually was, but Charlie knew that it was her influence…no, it was his true self. All of it. Charlie rolled her eyes with a fond smile at how Kyle would always do his best to pick up on people's feelings.

"Yeah, I am. I'm scared that Tyler and Foxy's bond will be put to the absolute limit given what happened back then. I'm scared that you won't be able to remember on your own and will always view it as something I merely told you about without knowing yourself separate from me. I'm terrified that my main body is getting harder and harder to attach to with each day that passes by. Even with it being out there…I'm here and I find it so much more natural to be here with you than with my own body and I can't tell why and-and that scares me so much!" Charlie explained, her voice cracking at the end as Kyle merely sighed and hugged her corporal form.

"It's alright, Charlie, I'm here. I'm not leaving you." Kyle told her with a smile as she hugged him back.

"T-Thanks, Kyle."

Tyler couldn't help the sigh of disappointment that came out when the last bell rang to signal it was 9 in the afternoon. He barely even noticed the day flying by, even despite how Foxy had to nearly drag him to the kitchen to get food, despite immediately regretting that decision when he saw Cassandra and immediately had the two duck out with the face of someone that was insanely guilty and not wanting to get caught.

Sadly, or more so hilariously enough, Cassandra merely leaned over the counter to stare at the two of them, "Want lunch? I'm making your favorite, and I hope you eat every bite." She stated with a grin that made both of them whimper. They rather forget the hell she created with that one, both of them put that as the inspiration of the next story they gave, the nausea caused by the vegetable anchovy meat lover's abomination being great as a painful story telling of how scary cooks are when mad and why you should never ever make them angry.

Of course, Cassandra merely grinned at the meek pair afterwards, "I'll make you di-"

"NO! WE'RE GOOD!" Foxy and Tyler yelled in unison.

"You don't want my cooking?" She said in false sorrow.

"We're full." Tyler nodded.

"Very full." Foxy mimicked the motion.

"Soooo, I guess this meat lover's supreme will just have to go into the trash…" She stated, an edible looking pizza on the plate as the two looked at each other in panic.

"I-It's just a bluff! S-She hates wasting food!"Tyler thought to Foxy, not able to truly convince either of them.

"We must st-st-god, that looks so good… FOCUS!" Foxy snapped himself out of the drool as Cassandra grinned, watching their eyes staring greedily at the pizza she made before placing it in front of her on the counter.

"Now, boys, what have we learned?" She watched the two stare at each other before crumbling when she placed a second pizza, equal in quality of course, on the counter.

"Not to piss you off?"

"Try again." Cassandra shot down Foxy's apology effortlessly.

"Don't…drop bombshells without warning?"

"Close, but not quite!" Cassandra winked as the two wracked their heads before blinking and narrowing their eyes in annoyance.

"You're just mad because you lost the bet!" Tyler accused as she looked at him with the perfect expression of 'So?' "That's the only reason you were going after us!?"

"You made me owe Henrick a day of fanning over him. What do you think!?"

Foxy tried to hide the snickers. He really did, but after a stray thought of Cassandra literally fanning him, Foxy was down for the count.

"What!?" Cassandra pouted as Tyler took over for his fallen friend.

"I…I think that's on you for making bets about other people. You shouldn't bet something you don't want to do on the line and then be mad at the people who, need I remind you, weren't even aware of said bet. Kinda reads as your fault here." Tyler pointed out, completely avoiding the question as he knew Foxy would be howling for quite a while with the thoughts incredibly getting more and more insane by the second.

"Do you want the pizzas or not?" Cassandra asked dangerously as the two instantly were at the counter.

"YES!"

"Then take them and go before I pound you both one." Cassandra threatened as the two took them and fled to safety. Which meant fleeing until they reached the office with Kyle and Charlie, who looked way more smug than they had any right to after the Cookie Monster incident.

"Cassandra sounded pissed," Kyle stated simply as he reached for a piece only to realize what was on said pizza and looking at them like they were crazy, "You…you do realize what that is, right?"

"What?" Foxy blinked in confusion as they looked at the pizza again. Still looked the same to him, nothing added or anything, and Tyler looked to be enjoying it just fine.

"I…" Kyle started before Charlie sighed.

"Kyle's just not one for meat on his pizzas," Tyler informed Foxy simply, "He thinks of them as heresy. We had a war about this, and I won."

"OH HELL NO YOU DIDN'T!" Kyle yelled, "Cheese pizza won overall!"

"Mom certainly didn't think so."

"Mom was just pitying you."

"And what about Tommy?"

"He chose veggie pizza, he's a pure heathen."

"Fair, least we can agree on that one."

"Cheese still won!"

"Not even close.."

While the two brothers bickered about pizza and what was considered heresy or not, Foxy looked to Charlie, "How are you both here and there?" He asked as Charlie shrugged.

"My body is there, but my consciousness is here. It's…complicated," Foxy made an understanding sound as the two watched the free entertainment their Hosts gave them, "My bet is that Tyler gets fed up first." Charlie stated out of nowhere as Foxy raised his hat a bit in lieu of an eyebrow.

"I bet that whoever goes first would be based on outside circumstances," Foxy replied with a smirk, "Not because of me, of course." Foxy quickly informed Charlie shrugged.

"What are we wagering?"

"Hmm, how about having to explain the whole…me situation to their mother?"

"And if both happen?"

"Then we both explain it." Foxy answered simply as the two shook hands.

"And if neither?" Charlie asked after a moment with a smirk stretching across her face while the two watched their Hosts bicker.

Foxy grinned wolfishly, "Then we get them to do it." The two grinned menacingly as they looked towards the two brothers as Foxy merely grabbed Tyler's pizza, causing Tyler to immediately stop bickering and look towards Foxy.

"Hey! That's mine! You get your own!" Tyler yelled indignantly as Foxy and Charlie shared a menacing smirk. Foxy merely grinned while putting his pizza back down, "Okay, what's with the general vibe of evilness going on here?"

"Neither got fed up with the argument first." Charlie stated first, looking at Foxy with her smirk turning into a devilish grin.

"And it was due to me as an outside source that they stopped fighting." Foxy repeated the same motion towards Charlie before they both showed their grins towards their family.

"Meaning you get to explain it all to her!" They finished with a flourish.

The two brothers weren't impressed, "Explain it to who?" Kyle asked, mostly confused despite feeling the pure delight that filled their bond from Charlie. Tyler merely blanked when he felt the answer on his own end.

"Oh, we are so fucked." Tyler stated simply as Foxy went out howling in laughter.

"Well, Kyle, since you haven't figured it out yet. You two get to explain the Hosting nonsense to your mother, complete with a trip to see Foxy." Charlie stated as Kyle paled.

"Well, fuck."

The two tried to convince their friends to not put them through that, or at least to help them with the reveal, but neither budged one bit aside from Foxy agreeing to doing a story routine with Tyler for the reveal. Knowing that was the best they were going to get, and Tyler knowing that their Mom probably already knew given her reaction to Charlie, they merely sighed as they finished up their supper.

Closing hour was especially offputting today given the whole…threat abound them. They didn't know when it was coming, but it was obviously putting them all on edge as they went along trying to act natural. Despite all of that, Tyler and Foxy weren't the ones on edge the most, nor Kyle for that matter.

Charlie was the one practically sweating bullets as the hours ticked on until midnight would strike. She refused to say anything more than that being the moment it would strike, and to be on guard, so neither pair split up like they usually would, knowing that it would probably strike tonight and not bother waiting another day.

The alarm ringing was all the warning they had when they entered the main party hall to find not a sound awaiting them. Other nights would have some noise given they would be stretching out tired joints or talking to one another, but…this was dead silence as Tyler and Foxy stepped in front of Kyle and Charlie protectively, watching the entrance as a black wisp seemed to phase into the Building.

"Where…" a foreign voice seemed to ring through their heads, sending Charlie to a near panic attack, "There…you…are…" The wisp seemed to turn as it tried rushing at Charlie, only to find Tyler and Foxy instead, "You…aren't…why?" The wisp seemed to ask as it was unable to move any further.

"Because we're your targets this time. Let's play a game." Tyler and Foxy grinned.

"No…he…target…not…you." The wisp tried as Tyler shook his head.

"You don't get them. We're your targets and no one else. You want them, beat us first, or you won't ever touch a hand on them!" Tyler said as Foxy growled at the wisp.

"Very…well…" The wisp said before rocketing into Tyler's body.

And like it was magic, Tyler's world fell to darkness.