The purple curtain pulls back, revealing a very upset looking Foxy. SpringBonnie just smiles.
"Get yer lazy ass out of ma cove!" Foxy huffs, his hook rising in the air threateningly. SpringBonnie's seen him do it too many times to be scared anymore. He never hurts anyone with it; he's programmed not to. When the rabbit doesn't move, Foxy's frown grows deeper. "What did I just tell ya?! Get out, ya lazy dog!"
SpringBonnie lets out a long sigh, but he does leave the hidden stage. Foxy makes another face before closing the curtains again, cutting off the conversation. Not that it really was one. He's tried staying before, but Foxy ended up just throwing him out on his own. It didn't really hurt, but SpringBonnie also knows that he went too far back then. Foxy needs his space respected.
He turns at the sound of laughing and finds Bonnie and Freddy watching him. He crosses his arms to fake some confidence. "Don't you have something better to do?" Freddy just shakes his head and begins walking down the hall, but Bonnie stays. His expression is difficult to figure out, almost like it's guarded.
"Why do you like Pirate Cove so much?" Bonnie asks and SpringBonnie pauses. It's a fair question, but he doesn't really want to get too personal here. They may live in the same Pizzeria but that doesn't mean they're all best friends. Honestly, SpringBonnie has a feeling that he and Fredbear aren't really viewed too highly to the others.
Looking at the purple curtains again, SpringBonnie lets his ears fall slightly. "It's small." He says, not really caring to elaborate past that.
Bonnie doesn't accept that alone, though. "Isn't the Parts and Service room small? And Fredbear's there too. Why do you bother coming all the way out here?" It sounds a little accusatory and it's pretty rude, since Bonnie doesn't really own the entire restaurant. What right does he have to lock them away in Parts and Service?
"Well, maybe I get tired of that old room." SpringBonnie stands defensively. Bonnie's expression doesn't change. "And...well, it reminds me of Fredbear's Diner. Your stage is too big, but this one's about the same size." And he doesn't mind Foxy either. He didn't take anyone's name and unlike Chica, he doesn't just glare at them. He's nice company.
"So it's a nostalgic thing, then? Makes sense." Bonnie looks at the cove as well before heading in the same direction Freddy went. It's odd and SpringBonnie has no idea what to make of that interaction, but he feels a little vulnerable now. Like Bonnie was trying to pick through his brain.
SpringBonnie suddenly feels tired as he heads back to Parts and Service. He never felt out of place before they came here. He had a purpose in the diner and he fulfilled it perfectly. Every show felt different from the last, no matter what song they sang. Everything was so nice back then, but now that nice feeling is gone. it's replaced with grief, both his own and his creator's.
Maybe he can convince Foxy to let him in tomorrow.
Spring can't help from pacing. He's practiced this over and over, but he still doesn't feel ready.
He's just underneath the stage, waiting out the remaining minutes until it's his time to go up. The crew are rushing around to help organize this big event and the constant shouting makes Spring feel worse. He holds his banjo tighter as it becomes too much and he's forced to close his eyes.
He can't do this. He can't play up there, not after so long.
"Spring? What are you doing? Aren't you going up in five minutes?" He looks up to see Chica stares at him. Spring can't get out a reply, so he just curls into himself again. He barely hears Chica getting closer but when she places a hand on his ear, it's reassuring. It's something to focus on besides the crushing anxiety. "Hey, it's okay! Everyone get's a little nervous before the show, but that doesn't mean you'll mess up!"
But he will! He can't tell her that, can't convince his voice box to actually let the words out, but it's still true. He can't play all on his own. It's not right. It'll look funny and all of those adults are going to be disappointed! He pulls his ears down over his face, trying to hide from the outside world. Is it too late to just deactivate for good? Maybe this whole "bringing back an original animatronic" thing isn't a good idea. Maybe he should've stayed in that pile-
"Spring?" Chica's closer now but he doesn't look up. Her hand is on his shoulder now, but it doesn't move when he starts shaking. "What did you do back then?"
The question startles him enough to make him look up. He locks eyes with her. "...What?"
She gives him a warm smile. "You know, than when you did this every day! I'm sure you got nervous sometimes, so what did you do to calm down?"
What...did he do? Spring sits there for a long time, just thinking. He hears someone shout about timing, but he pushes it away. What did he do to calm down? Well, he didn't really do anything. Even back then, he was always so full of nerves and anxiety. He remembers his very first day and how hard it was to stay on that stage. He wanted to run away, banjo and all, but he didn't. Fredbear...
Fredbear talked him out of it. He gave comfort and eventually convinced Spring to stay for at least one song. Then after that, when Spring was feeling better, Fredbear gave him a proud look.
Spring sits up again and closes his eyes. He shuts everything else away but the thought of Fredbear. "You were programmed to do this. Just play and forget everything else." He remembers that deep, supportive tone. It makes the shivers go away, but it's not enough. He still can't convince himself to stand. What else did he say? "Forget everything else. If you mess up, then it will only be a moment."
"And if it goes wrong, then I'll take care of it."
Spring opens his eyes carefully. The nerves aren't gone, but it feels less overwhelming. Before he can change his mind, Spring stands up with Chica's help and walks to the lift. He gives her one last look before sitting on his designated chair. The crew work around him, the seconds counting down until the lift finally starts to move up. For a moment, the panic comes back and he feels like he's being raised into a monster's mouth, but he goes back to Fredbear. To the conversations they had.
"Do you promise?" Spring whispers. He remembers Fredbear smiling like nothing in the world could ever hurt them.
"Promise."
The lift stops and Spring stares out at the crowd. It's dark and he's sitting right in the spotlight. The stage is huge, bigger than even Freddy's was. He feels tiny compared to it and he has to really fight not to hide again. He shifts of the chair, planting both feet on the ground. Setting the banjo into position, Spring looks out at the crowd and prepares his voice box. He already knows what song he'll be singing.
"You were programmed for this. Just play and leave the rest to me."
Watch me, Fredbear.
"Well, hey there!" Spring smiles. He waves, just like he always did before a performance, before grabbing the banjo again. No one replies. "It's been a while, huh? But don't worry! I've got a special song just for you! The old folks may remember it! Here it is, Beautiful Boy by John Lennon!" There's a pause when he rests his fingers.
The moment he plays the first cord, it's like he's back in time. Back in Fredbear's Diner playing this song for the first time. The tune comes naturally and he goes back to the default movements, even though he's been given more with his repairs.
As the song goes into the chorus, Spring gets lock in time and he swears he can feel someone beside him. He can hear that deeper tone singing with him, this time, carrying the harmonies that Spring would've originally. He hears the soft clicking of movements as they both cycle through them. His ears rise, then fall in time with the beat. And as they reach the bridge, he slowly stands from his chair. He sways from side to side, completely lost in his own memory.
"Darling, Darling, Darling...Darling Sean." The cords end softly and he just stands there for a moment. He looks out to the audience, reality coming back to him again. Then, the room fills with applaud. Spring stands in front of it all with wide eyes, not sure how to react to this. He settles on just waving, though, his face does glow with joy as he locks eyes with a few of the people below. He sees tears rolling down an old woman's face. A younger man is cheering and whistling and the person beside him simply looks shocked.
It drags out for minutes and Spring just soaks in the praise like he always did. They love him. They've always loved him. He just wishes Fredbear could see it too.
"I guess you liked that one." Spring speaks naturally this time, now that he's not actively fighting a break down. "Well, luckily for you, I have a few more songs to play! Coming up next is Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver!"
Spring bows just after his last song ends. The crowd doesn't stop as he begins to lower out of sight. Even once the lift is settled at the bottom, he can still hear them clapping. He feels jitty with excitement, so much so that he walks off of the lift with a wide grin on his face.
"Spring!" He just makes it past the majority of the set up crew as the Glamrocks come into view. He sets his banjo aside before rushing toward them, his arms already open as Chica wraps him in a hug. "You did so good!" She jumps and he has to push her away before she breaks something, but he's still smiling like an idiot.
"Good is an understatement!" Bonnie seems unusually excited as he also pulls Spring into a hug. "I haven't heard those songs in so long! What a nostalgia trip!"
They finally let him go and Spring corrects his bowtie. "Thank you. I didn't think so many people would come to see me, let alone enjoy it." It was so different from his vision of two or three old people and the empty stares he'd get after. He can't be more grateful that it turned out way better.
"Wow, you're really old!" A new voice comes up from the group and Spring falters. Who was that? His attention turns to Freddy when the animatronic picks up a little boy. The kid looks familiar in an unnerving way. It makes the post-concert glow dampen slightly, but Spring tries to keep his smile on.
"Ah, apologizes." Freddy looks sheepish as he puts the boy on his shoulders. "This is Gregory! I think Vanessa mentioned him to you before."
Oh right. The kid Afton was going after on "that night" that hardly anyone will really tell him about. Well, now that Spring can see Gregory himself, he can guess as to why Afton would target him. He looks exactly like the monster's son. The one that got...killed.
"Hello, Gregory." Spring waves awkwardly. "I'm Spr-"
"SpringBonnie, I know." The boy interrupts. "I saw the fliers and if I hadn't, then Vanessa's blabbering would've told me." Bonnie gives him a look and Gregory groans. "I mean, it's nice to meet you."
A little rude, but Spring might be able to blame puberty for that. He's seen a few odd ones in his days. Hell, Michael was one of those kids...maybe that's a bad example.
"We should let Spring rest." Roxy cuts in. "You're probably energized now, but you'll crash really soon without a charging station nearby."
Chica nods along. "Yeah! Sorry for holding you up!" She continues before he can get a word in. "Someone can go with you, if you want! the customers might maul you if you're alone, especially since you're allowed to be seen now."
He's about to refuse but that final point makes him pause. She does have a point. He used to have kids trying to get onto the stage before. Without that clear barrier between him and customers, it can get pretty messy. He's also not made to withstand that much physical pressure either. "Sure. Whoever has the time to go with me, I guess."
The Glamrocks look at each other before Bonnie raises his hand. "I'll let Monty sub in for me today. Besides, someone has to keep watch over Gregory while Vanessa's working."
"I don't need a babysitter!" Gregory protests, but Bonnie is already pulling him away from Freddy.
"Don't be difficult. You know you're not supposed to just wander around the Pizzaplex, even if you can handle yourself." Spring waves at the rest of the Glamrocks as he walks with Bonnie. He'll come back for his banjo after closing. Until then, he probably will need a while to charge.
As they walk through the Plaza, Bonnie does a pretty good job at keeping customers away. He refuses all autograph offers, telling them to wait for the designated time. There's a little backlash, but it's nothing too crazy. If anything, it makes Spring feel at home. He's used to customers wanting attention.
He also can't imagine a child walking around this place alone. Even without killer robots coming after him, there's always a risk of someone else taking him. A boy without a record could so easily disappear and it's exactly how Afton did things.
As they ender the daycare area, they're stopped again by a few parents looking to see Spring up closer, but Bonnie moves them along. Once they're behind the theater -where Spring will now start performing every so often- Bonnie and Gregory stick around to keep him company for a while. It's casual and Gregory continues to be a little annoying, but it's something Spring can get used to.
Do I have a clear end in sight for this fic? Yes and no. I know how I want to end it, but have no idea how we're going to get there. I guess we're all along for the ride!