"Do you remember… nothing?"
"Yes! But also no!"
"So you remember somethings?"
"Yeah that!"
"So what do you remember?"
"I was practicing guitar in my room when Officer Vanessa told me there was a kid in the Pizzaplex! I went to look but he kept running away. And I was… I was super hungry Freddy." That was the weirdest part. She had been programmed to feel a sense of "hunger", it helped her know when the kids needed a break from exercising to eat and get water, and given a special trash compartment that food would go so that she could "eat" with them. It wasn't abnormal for her to be hungry at night and go eat a pizza, but last night was different. The hunger wouldn't go away no matter what she did.
"And that is all you remember?"
"I know I ended up in the trash compactor but I don't know how I got there. Anyways, what do you remember?" Silence stretched through the room as Freddy contemplated. Chica tapped out beats on her leg and was about to ask again when he finally responded.
"There was a child in the Pizzaplex, his name is Gregory. He found a way into my stomach hatch between the show and me going back to my room." Chica gasped.
"But your stomach hatch isn't a safe play area!"
"I know! But he found a way inside. I couldn't contact the main office and decided to help him get out. He did not trust Officer Vanessa."
"Why didn't he?"
"She was not herself. She was trying to hurt him."
"That's horrible! But, why couldn't he trust the rest of us?"
"You remember chasing him, correct?"
"Duh I just said that. We were trying to take him to Van… oh."
"That is why. You were not yourselves either. Whatever was making Officer Vanessa act how she did was harming you three. None of you would talk to me and you kept trying to hurt him." No she couldn't have. They're not allowed to hurt children! It goes against their programming.
"Gregory was scared and… Gregory is the reason that you all broke. You kept chasing him and he had to hurt you to save himself."
"Well… I'm glad he did it!" Freddy spun around to stare at her.
"Chica what-"
"If he didn't get me in that crusher somehow then I would have hurt him. I never, never ever, want to hurt a kid Freddy. Especially one that you care about."
"What do you want to do kid?"
"Hmm?" Gregory looked up from his near empty plate.
"After dinner. Do you just want to go to bed? I have movies we could watch if you want."
"I'm pretty tired."
"Alright, let me go see if I have anything you can wear to sleep." Vanessa took her plate to the sink and started to load the dishwasher.
"What?"
"Well you're clothes need to be washed and I'm pretty sure it's not to comfortable sleeping in cargo shorts. Hand me your dishes when you're done so I can run this." Gregory ate the last bit of chicken and handed the plate and silverware over. Before going back to the couch.
Vanessa finished loading the dishes and turned it on. She went to wash her hands and winced at how hot the water was. Going to turn the heat down she realizing that it was lukewarm at best, her hands were just ice cold.
Which reminds her-
"While we're trying to find pajamas keep an eye out for a coat you fit in. It's freezing outside." Walking to the spare room she beckoned form Gregory to follow. He hopped off the couch and followed her inside.
The boxes weren't labeled, she had been in to much of a rush moving here, but god did she wish she had stuck a sticker on the one with clothing. They found assorted fabric, books, even extra dishes she forgot she owned before finding the correct box.
They pulled it out and tried to find anything that would stay on Gregory and not fall off.
"Why is half your clothing in boxes?"
"I'm still unpacking."
"Did you just move here?"
"No I've lived in this city my whole life and this apartment for five years life just got, y'know, busy." What she was busy with went unspoken between them.
"What about this?" It was an old band shirt. It looked like it would be a bit large on him. Perfect.
"Why is it an ad for lost socks?"
"It's based off of a song. Go put this on and I'll keep looking for a coat.
Gregory left the room and she kept looking but found nothing. She went through every single box, god she had to clean this up later, but everything was either too long for him to walk it, wouldn't fit, or was not child appropriate. (She was not going to have an eleven year old walking around wearing a hoodie with the word bitch on it.)
She change into her own pajamas and found Gregory on the couch watching his show again.
"I couldn't find a jacket, I'll figure something out tomorrow."
"I'll be fine. When am I going to be outside for a long time? We're going straight to the Pizzaplex right?"
"We are but that's not the point," she sighed "either way we should sleep. After all it's, what, six pm? That's practically midnight for us." Gregory laughed. She grabbed the remote and blanket that she had left on the couch after last night.
"Night kid."
"Aren't you going to bed?"
"You've got the bed while you're here."
"But-"
"No buts kid. I'll be getting it back in a day or two anyways, don't worry about me. You go sleep in an actual bed before sleeping on, I don't know, a beanbag at the Pizzaplex for a week."
He was obviously unhappy with the arrangement but knew when he had lost.
"Night Vanessa."
Technicians and regular employees bustled around the main atrium of the Pizzaplex. Most of the cleaning and repairs had been done, it was mainly finishing up Monty and Roxy, but the higher ups still wanted to be sure. Most everyone (apart from those currently in Parts and Service) was going home in half an hour.
However Vanessa still hadn't shown up. Freddy paced around the atrium with Chica, desperately trying to calm him down.
"Freddy it's fine she might have just gotten stuck in traffic!"
"But what if something happened? We cannot contact her and Gregory hasn't called!"
"Freddy it's going to be okay, trust me." Freddy wanted to argue but suddenly saw Vanessa enter the building.
"Officer Vanessa!" His voice boomed around the large room and he waved his arms, desperate for her to see him. She waved back and started walking to them.
"See Freddy? I told you it was fine."
"I know Chica. I am truly sorry-"
"You don't need to apologize for it Freddy!"
"Hey you two."
"Officer Vanessa!" The two animatronics spoke in unison. Chica rushing over to give her a quick hug while Freddy waited impatiently.
"It's good to see you too Chica. You know how far along Monty and Roxy are?"
"Just about done!"
"That's great!"
"How is Gregory?" Chica released Vanessa from the hug so she could turn to Freddy.
"He's doing good. I don't have a ton to do at my apartment so he's just been watching TV but I did manage to get his clothes in the washer."
"That is fantastic! Has he been eating well? Is he feeling sick?"
"Freddy it's been two days. He eating fine and is feeling fine, don't worry."
"Are you absolutely sure? He hasn't called me yet." Vanessa's face scrunched up.
"Called you?"
"Yes? Gregory still has the Fazwatch right?"
"I didn't know that it could call from that far away."
"It's connected to the internet! They're supposed to be able to work as like, walkie-talkies for the kids!" said Chica.
"I didn't know about that, fuck I'll try and get it set up after I get home. I'm bringing him back tomorrow if everyone clears out by then."
"Wonderful! So, Gregory is doing okay?" Vanessa chuckled, but this was a serious matter!
"Freddy, Gregory is absolutely and totally fine. Maybe a bit bored and homesick, probably a little cold too, but he's safe and sound."
"Cold?"
"I can't find a jacket for him to wear. The heat is on and there are plenty of blankets, don't worry, it's just going to mean I have to go shopping for one."
"VANESSA!" Daniel Jeffers, the Pizzaria manager, came towards them. "There you are! We need some help in the-"
"On it Jeffers." Somehow knowing exactly what he meant Vanessa ran off to… where ever she was going. Mr. Jeffers walked right past them.
"Freddy! I have an idea!" Chica pulled Freddy back to her room, a scheme brewing in her mind.
Roxy's eyes flickered to light and Lux started the test. Vanessa just grabbed her jacket and went to leave. Monty was about to be woken up and she was running late. She had told Gregory she would be back at three and it was close to five. I better be getting lot of overtime pay for this.
But before she could leave Chica called after her.
She turned around and saw the duo from earlier barreling towards her. They stopped in-front of her, holding out a bunch of… hoodies?
"Take these!"
"Freddy what?"
"You said that Gregory needed a jacket and we have some here!" Freddy gave the jackets a little shake.
"Isn't this stealing? The alarm would probably go off."
"Nope! We removed the beepy things!" said Chica.
"On all of them?"
"What do you think we were doing all day?"
"Gregory only needs one jacket guys." The animatronics met each others eyes. How on earth is Fazbear Entertainment the most incompetent company ever, and yet manage to make sentient AI, and then somehow makes them lack as much common sense as the company does?
"Oh… well we can keep the extras here! Take the one that will fit him the best!" Vanessa rolled her eyes but dug through the pile of fabric.
Eventually she found one that was about the same size as the T-shirt he wore. Room to shrink in the wash then.
"This one works. Now I've gotta get home. I told Gregory that I'd be home at three and it's almost five thirty." Freddy's face fell and he shooed her out the door.
"Then do not keep him waiting! Have a safe drive home Officer Vanessa!"
"You know you can just call me Vanessa, right?"
"Understood Officer Vanessa!" She rolled her eyes and took our her car keys. Let's hope the traffic isn't bad.