Mable: Hello! So… Here we are… Okay, so, the Halloween chapter was supposed to be this week, but due to some planning mistakes on my part it managed to somehow get pushed to next week. So apparently Halloween is just going to stretch on. XD Though I did post a Halloween fic yesterday called 'The Lullaby', another FNAF story if you're interested.
Olivia the Nerd: I'm sorry that you've had to go through so much, but I'm so glad that I can help give you a little joy. 83 To ease your concerns, no, the fic won't stop updating anytime soon. I've heard these concerns a few times recently and would like to elaborate.
AFLH is written in a very specific way. I've written an entire guideline for the plot already and planned where I'm going, while leaving wiggle room and enough of a choice to change things later if they need to change. This is why the Halloween chapter accidently landed on the wrong week, because an extra chapter added pushed it back a week. As such, developments later in the plot, while not yet written, are certainly planned out. No running out of ideas here! I'm assuming these concerns are either because of my weekly updating schedule or because of my recent missing of Thursday postings.
On the first account, my weekly updating schedule is a way to post in a timely basis without getting to the point of burnout. I unintentionally hit burnout with a few of my 9 fics by tearing through them too fast. This at least keeps me timely.
On the second account, I will admit that me missing Thursday postings… Is pure procrastination. Usually by then the chapter is completely drafted, just not finished editing. (Unless I decide to add something last minute or something suddenly changes.) It's not because I can't do it or am struggling, but because… Well, to be frank, I simply don't crack down and write effectively through the week. This chapter is late because of procrastination alone, because Lullaby was written in advance and only needed editing.
So, no worries! The fic's sticking around until at least chapter one hundred! That's the plan. ^-^
On one final topic, I would also like to point everyone in the direction of some amazing fanart! Toasterwitch on DeviantArt has made an amazing picture of Baby and Charlie if you'd like to check it out. I can't include links on Fanfiction, but I'm sure if you type in toasterwitch and look you'll find it! And with that, onto the chapter!
Almost Feels Like Home
Chapter Twenty-Two
"Are ya ready for this? It be a big day for us, Mari."
Marionette tried not to let his nervousness show, but he had a feeling that Foxy could see it. Whether it be from his jittering or the ticking chiming in his chest he was rather obvious. "…I don't know, actually. I'm excited, but it feels like its been so long," the Puppet admitted. He could already hear the first party coming in through the front doors. An excitement settled in his chest. "The children are here!" His smile felt wider than ever as he turned towards his brother. "I change my mind. I couldn't be more ready. I missed this."
"Aye. I did too, Lad," Foxy agreed. He watched as the Puppet nearly trembled in growing excitement. "…It's been a while since we've been out here. Maybe we should open with somethin' special."
"Really?" Marionette looked over in confusion. "I don't think the party is here yet if that's what you think I heard."
"Yeah, but some of the half-pints are. That's all we need, yeah? I believe a shanty is called for!" Foxy declared boisterously. "To celebrate the return of Captain Foxy and Mate Marionette, we sing, we perform; whaddya say? This stage ain't too big fer both of us, an' we can get Jer'my to hold out the Prize Corner while you're up here!" This all sounded so pleasant. So remarkably innocent compared to past worries and missing children. It had been so long since Foxy and Marionette had performed together, and both were clearly ready for it.
"Why not? I think it's a wonderful idea! It's been too long since we've stretched out improv muscles, but I'm sure we can still keep up with each other," Marionette chimed happily and hooked his strings onto the curtain rod. Hopefully nobody would notice the difference. "What about you, Foxy? Are you ready to be back in business?"
"…Yeah, Lad." Foxy straightened his back with a confidence he hadn't had in a while. "This ol' sea dog be gettin' tired of port. Let us shove off fer adventure!... An' that adventure starts with, what, 'Let's Eat', some banter, an' into 'On the Salty Drink?" He accessed the makeshift plan quickly and the Puppet chimed in amusement.
"I think that sounds perfect, Captain!" With that, Foxy strode forwards and drew open the curtains to let them through. The children were waiting, and the new day was standing fresh before them.
It was great to be back.
The day was going surprisingly well considering that Foxy and Marionette spent most of it stuck on stage. Though it wasn't because of the lack of children. It was because of the swarm of children currently blocking them in.
It wasn't clear whether it was because the restaurant had been closed or because of the attention it got through the media, but there were more people than ever currently packed inside Foxy's. There were children everywhere and thankfully more parents than usual to watch them. The arcade was filled, the Prize Corner had to be manned by both Mike and Jeremy, and the pizzas were being served as fast as humanly possible. It was all a little too much, but the two managed to keep up. They used their proximity to have one step in when the other needed a rest, and the frequent singing was an excuse to draw back and regroup.
It was only in the later afternoon when the crowd finally started to die down. More of the children started leaving and the party had already come and gone. It was now that Marionette got a surprise that he was not expecting.
He spotted her from the stage as she stepped in through the front door. From her eager smile in the face of what should've been hesitation to her bouncing, blond curls, Chrissy was as recognizable as ever. She stood out from the children, or she did to the Puppet who immediately focused on the child as though he was assigned to her. He subtly tapped Foxy's arm, who was currently wrapping up a brief tale about sea adventures he never had, and then gestured his head over once he knew he was looking. Foxy spotted her as well, along with what looked to be both of her parents.
"I'll make a scene, you go down there an' see her," Foxy whispered to the giddy Puppet with slight amusement. With the intention of drawing attention to himself, Foxy went to splay his arms out dramatically and turn towards the children. "Who here wants to challenge Captain Foxy's score at Sit n' Survive?"
Unfortunately, Foxy's hook proceeded to catch two of Marionette's strings and easily yanked them free from the curtain rod. Of course, these strings weren't actually holding the Puppet, and anyone would've seen that if he didn't act fast. He would have to drop to cover up that he was floating. Yet on the other hand, he didn't want to do it too convincingly or the children might believe he truly was inanimate, so instead of collapsing to the ground he purposefully fell on Foxy, putting an arm over his shoulder, hopefully giving a mixed illusion. Foxy looked to him in alarm and hooked his own arm around him.
"Easy, Lad! Looks like ya ain't got yer sea legs!" Foxy exclaimed boisterously to play it off. Then, in a high hum that the children wouldn't notice, he added in, "Sorry, sorry! Ten years, ya'd think I'd figure this bloody hook out!"
"It's fine, it's fine!" Marionette excused. Outwards he let out playfully chimes as though in amused laughter, to continue going with the show. "Maybe we can salvage this. Help me off the stage?"
"Easier said than done," Foxy lamented. Still, he caused this, so he shuffled them towards the stairs at the edge of the stage. "Guess yer comin' with us, Boyo! To the- To the Prize Corner to get ya in yer box!" He started to pass by the onlooking children. "Alright, me mateys! Off to the arcade to get Captain Foxy his booty, or yer gonna walk the plank!" Apparently, the kids decided to take heed and hurried off to do so. Foxy then continued to half drag Marionette towards the Prize Corner, and towards Chrissy.
"Mari!" Chrissy cried out and rushed forward. Smile widening only subtly, Marionette pulled from Foxy and dropped down to hug the girl tightly. She hugged back, crinkling a drawing she had brought or him, and gave a noise akin to a little squeak. He chimed and trilled happily and nuzzled his mask into her curls. He held her as close as he could. He only realized that her parents were probably watching when Mike seemed to suddenly appear out of the Prize Corner and started chatting them up; obviously to distract them, as he was never this social during work. As such, Marionette allowed himself to lower his guard.
Chrissy excitedly showed the Puppet her drawing as he knelt before her. She told him how much she missed him and how happy she was to see him. He couldn't speak back with everyone watching, but she understood that. She was such a good kid, or that's what Foxy thought when he watched them. With a low chuckle, he reached out and patted her head and received a smile in return. He could only wonder what happened to the others that escaped Magictime Theater.
Though Foxy didn't have to wonder too long. He dismissed himself and headed to the arcade to meet up with the group of children excitedly waiting for him. Some wanted him to play with them, some just wanted him to watch them play and praise their performances, one confused one even tried pushing tickets on him, and one… One was rather familiar. A touch older than the other children, he stood at the back of the arcade at one of the machines, fiddling with the controls and occasionally glancing over. He tried to look inconspicuous, but that only made Foxy more aware of him.
That, and the fact that he was clearly one of the kidnapped children, Jason. Foxy wasn't certain why he was here or even how long he had been in the pizzeria but decided not to approach outright. He just waited patiently, anticipating that eventually the boy would come to him. So, when he never did, Foxy could only come to his own conclusions to why the boy was watching.
He made sure to act more robotic after that.
Fritz knew something was off when he went to pick up Baby after work. Scott was just the slightest bit shaky and stayed mostly silent, even when Fritz tried to engage in conversation. Baby was remarkably cooperative in getting in the back of the van, climbing in even before he could put the ramp down, and continued the trend of silence. Ennard was also completely missing, which was odd as, even though Fritz barely saw him, he usually could hear him or caught glimpses here or there. Though what Fritz did notice was what looked to be a broken piece of furniture in the living room. Something must have happened, even if Scott insisted all was well.
Fritz was reluctant to ask when Scott was so resistant, so instead he thanked the older man and hurried to get Baby out of his hair. That seemed like the smartest thing to do.
Baby had stayed silent through most of Fritz's attempts to talk with her. He assumed she was mad at him and, considering the circumstances, he couldn't say he entirely blamed her. After being thoroughly uprooted and dropped off with Scott, things must've been awkward. It wasn't like he had much of a choice though. Baby and Charlie had done something worse than either anticipated; they had risked their lives and the entire Foxy's franchise at once. Even now, Fritz knew that there was as investigation at Chica's Party World, and that didn't help the fact that he was already being eyed by the detective.
He anticipated the cold shoulder. What he did not anticipate was when Baby suddenly asked a very odd question.
"Do you think I'm a bad person?"
The question seemingly came out of the blue and Fritz wasn't sure where it could've come from. It was the last thing he ever expected Baby to ask with her amount of confidence. He looked into the rearview mirror to see her watching him and knew she wanted an answer. "Where did that come from?" he asked in confusion and received no answer. "…I don't think that."
"I do bad things and I don't know why. Sometimes I don't understand-." Baby then abruptly cut off. Those words sounded so familiar to her. Perhaps she had said them before but had just said them out of reflex. This time something amongst them caught her interest. She had been saying these things to assure her companion- whoever it was- that she was remorseful for anything she might've done. Someone like Fritz, no doubt, who needed her assurances before he would dare trust her. She was constantly tugging at their emotions to get what she wanted out of them.
It only now dawned on her that perhaps Charlie and Ennard were saying the same thing, and maybe they were both right. Maybe she was the problem. Maybe Baby only did have Baby.
But what was she supposed to do? Act 'nice' and let people do what they wished with her? She had done that before and spent years trapped inside a basement, being shocked repeatedly. People were unreliable and unhelpful when not persuaded, so she had always felt justified in her actions. They used her, so she would use them; it was the only way to get results. But if that was the case, why second guess herself now? She couldn't take back what she did to Charlie, so she didn't need to dwell on it. Ennard had been the root of much of her suffering, or the others were, so she should've been justified.
"I do things to help myself," Baby corrected, suddenly changing tone. "Why does everyone act like that's wrong? They would do the same."
"Well… Maybe in a situation like Afton's, but out here things are different," Fritz encouraged her. "We're definitely not doing what Afton was doing, and we don't treat animatronics any different than humans- except the things we can't change, like trying to keep you out of sight and not letting people know about living animatronics, but that's a safety measure. You better believe that people… People get scared and do crazy things…" He paused and then muttered under his breath, "Or at least that's what I've been telling myself about Natalie's dad…"
"People get scared… and then do crazy things," Baby repeated thoughtfully. Her eyes focused on the back of his seat for a moment, then onto the road in front of the van and the street they were driving on. "…If I wouldn't have tried to escape from that factory then I would still be there. If I wouldn't have taken wires where I could then I would fall apart. Everything I am is what I put together alone, but if I waited for help I would've never gotten it."
"I'll give you that, Baby. You're right. Chances are that if you didn't do what you did that you'd be worse off," Fritz agreed as he slowed for a turn. They were starting to near in on the warehouse once more. "But it is different now. Now you don't need to do that anymore… And I know how hard it is to break a habit, but you're going to have to learn that there's a new way to do things now. You ask, and I can provide. I can get you wires. I can take care of you."
"You would take care of me…" This time Fritz noticed something strange in Baby's tone. He wasn't sure what it was, but it sounded softer and gentle. As though for a moment that fake sweetness became real. This faded away to a more neutral one once more. "Do you trust me?" There was a loaded question that the technician doubted he could answer in a convincing way. "Scott said you didn't trust me… But then again, I provoked him." Baby gave a defeated sigh. She didn't know why she would defend Scott, but if she was to be honest she had pushed him. "I insulted his lover in front of him."
Fritz made a noise akin to a sputter, like he was spitting out water in a comical display that someone would do on TV. He then choked on a few suppressed chuckles. "Baby, I wouldn't- I don't think I'd call Ennard Scott's lover."
"He said he loves him, so he's his lover. His frustrating, falling to pieces lover," Baby pointed out matter-of-factly. She tightened her claw with a low groan. "It called me a princess. How childish."
"I don't know. You kind of look like a princess. Ennard might've been onto something," Fritz playfully quipped back to her. He glanced into the rearview mirror at her. "You already have the crown and everything."
"She's all yours, Princess. I made her just for you."
"What?" Baby asked aghast. Her eyes briefly went out of focus as she stared at the back of his seat. "What did you say?"
"I meant that crown on your head," Fritz pointed out with an assuring smile as they pulled into the parking lot.
"Oh… Yes…" Baby tried to force back the weird feeling as she recognized that voice. She knew that voice, but she couldn't put it to a face. The technician seemed oblivious to her plight as he continued.
"The truth is that people do bad things all the time, whether on purpose or not. What really matters is what you do once you realize you made a mistake. You can make a change, you can make an effort to not do whatever it was again, or you can just keep doing whatever it is and keep repeating the cycle. That's the Freddy's way!" Fritz paused for emphasis and then added, "I wouldn't recommend that option."
"She told me what I was doing was wrong, but I didn't care, but now I think about it…" Baby blinked thoughtfully. "I don't know what to think of Charlie. She's very oblivious and she's very observant, and I don't understand how she's both." Indeed, she didn't know what to think of the Security Puppet, though now after all of this she was beginning to feel like she had truly done something wrong. "And now she too hates me. I don't know why I care."
Fritz didn't know what to say to this. Instead he turned off the van, climbed out, and crossed to the back to let the animatronic out. He only hoped that she wouldn't press him for answers, because they were entering a territory that he didn't feel comfortable giving advice about. Though immediately he was blindsided by a new question.
"Should I apologize?" Baby asked, now at the back door and staring down at him. "Would that make it better?"
"Considering that you tricked her into driving you halfway across the state without telling her why and then traumatized her by taking apart an animatronic in front of her?" Fritz offered. He hesitated a moment, considering it, and then shrugged. "It couldn't hurt." He reached to pull the ramp out when the clown suddenly rolled forward and dropped down from the van heavily. He only had a moment to look around and make sure nobody heard. "You know, I could've- Baby, wait," he desperately called as he followed her to the door. She was obviously impatient as he unlocked the door and nearly barged past him.
He watched her head down towards the office and awkwardly cleared his throat. "So, I guess if you're going to be on the phone then you probably don't need me-."
"Don't go anywhere," Baby firmly commanded as she stopped for only a moment. "I might have use for you, since you generously offered yourself to provide for me. Wait for me. I won't be long." Then she continued without him, leaving him with that last comment and the quiet sound of squeaking from her wheels
In retrospect, Fritz left himself open for this. He had a feeling that he would live to regret it.
Mike would've given anything for an excuse to get out of the Freddy boardgame. So, when the phone rang, he sprung for it like he was running from Freddy Fazbear himself. Marionette noticed it in passing but continued with his move by rolling the dice. Charlie watched with a moderate amount of interest. Less from the game itself and more from the memories it brought. It was amazing how moving a Chica token around a board could bring back moments lost to time. Marionette, meanwhile, was just thrilled that he found a new player who was willing to play a full game, instead of stopping halfway through like he and Mike usually did.
Both Puppets were somewhat listening in on Mike answering the phone, but it was purely out of curiosity. If it would've been Jeremy or Fritz it would've gone ignored rather quickly. From the conversation that followed, this wasn't the case.
"Hello?" Mike asked as he answered the phone. He then hesitated, pausing and listening to whoever was speaking on the line, and neither Puppet thought anything of it. Or that was until his tone changed. "Yeah, I don't think I'm going to do that," he quipped in response. There was a pause and his brows raised. "That's some colorful language for a lady, isn't it?... Wait a minute, that depends. Be straight with me; is this just Ennard again?" There was more talking on the other line and he exhaled slowly before pressing the phone to his chest. "Charlie, Baby's on the line."
"Baby?" the Security Puppet asked in disbelief and looked back over the back of the couch. "Baby called back? What does she want?"
"First and foremost, to cuss me out in some sort of weird, animatronic way. It could still be Ennard, in which case it's a spot-on impression," Mike explained. He then raised the phone and spoke into it. "I just told her. Give her a second to get over the shock," he sarcastically quipped.
"You don't have to talk to her," Marionette reminded as he moved the Freddy figure a few spots across the board. "It's your choice."
"…No, I think I will. I'll hear her out." Honestly, Charlie didn't know what she was expecting to hear from Baby. She had made her peace, as did Baby, and she wasn't up to the subtle insults that the clown would provide. Yet she still came over to get the phone. Mike shot her a silent look of questioning, and she could imagine Marionette's words also coming out of his mouth. She gave him a partial shrug and took the phone, then waited until he walked off before speaking into it. "I didn't expect to hear from you again."
"Charlie," Baby acknowledged. It sounded like she was annoyed, but this dissipated rather quickly. "I can guess that I'm the last person you want to hear from, but I feel that there were some things left unsaid."
"Uh huh…" Charlie leaned against the wall and waited to see where the clown was going.
"I have had time to think about my decisions and I am starting to understand what I did wrong," Baby began. "Don't be mistaken: I don't regret going to Chica's Party World and I do not regret dismantling Funtime Chica. I needed the wires that she didn't. I also do not regret disrupting their business, being that it is another franchise competitor, even if my pizzeria is gone. I also do not regret using the van without Fritz's permission as he seems unbothered by it." At this point, Charlie suspected that the rest of the conversation would follow suit, with Baby listing and defending her decisions.
But then Baby did something that Charlie did not suspect.
"What I did wrong and what I regret is what happened between us," Baby admitted. "You were right. I do things in my own interest, but that is because I only have myself to rely on. Baby only has Baby; you said it yourself."
"I remember something like that…" the Security Puppet agreed without much inflection on her voice. Though while not externally showing much of a reaction, inwardly she was completely confused. "She wants something. I don't know what, but she must be desperate if she's already back to trying to smooth things over."
"I've only ever had myself. Even when I thought I had friends they abandoned me. I've only had myself to rely on. If that means playing pretend to get what I need, then that is what I must do. I did the same with you." Baby's voice grew quieter. "But I wonder… If I would have told you what I really needed to go for, would you have still taken me?" Charlie stayed silent because she didn't know either. "I wonder about you, Charlie. You're very human for a puppet."
"Thanks?" Charlie responded. At this point she was just as confused as Baby claimed that she was.
"And my previous offer still stands," Baby added finally. It seemed like she was wrapping up and that was the other's only warning that the conversation was coming to a quick close. Baby had said her peace and now intended to leave without giving the other much of a chance to respond. Then, as quickly as could be, "Thank you," and the line went dead.
"Are you-… Baby?... Okay." Charlie hung the phone back up and stood there for a few moments trying to process what happened. What had her so baffled was the fact that Baby hadn't asked her for something. It was possible that she was leaving it open for a later favor, but her typical behavior didn't suggest that she planned too far in advance. That and how she ended it- how her thanks almost sounded genuine by how she struggled to say it- left the Security Puppet with a very mixed message. She returned to the living room. "Well, that was something."
"You lasted longer than I did, so I'm guessing she didn't go at you like she went at me," Mike pointed out. He glanced up from the game with interest. "What was it about?"
"To be honest, I'm not entirely sure. Either she was apologizing without apologizing, thanking me just long enough to defend herself, or got bored enough at the warehouse to call me and then went with whatever she could." Charlie gave a small sigh as she looked down at the board blankly. It took a few silent moments before she realized that they were both looking at her; Marionette with concern and Mike with a quirked brow. This was enough for Charlie to force a quick recovery. "It's nothing. I'm just happy that she didn't call looking for a ride. Who knows, maybe she had a spontaneous change of heart."
"Crashing at Scott's will do that to you. It's like skydiving: if you live, you come out like a different person," Mike pointed out as he absentmindedly moved Freddy a few spaces. He then shot her a flat look, "Speaking of which, if Ennard starts asking for rides then do yourself a favor and hang up."
This roused a chime out of Marionette who added in, "I wouldn't spend too much time trying to figure out Baby's game. She changes the rules too frequently to keep up…" He then glanced to Mike. "Speaking of which, you owe me three hundred dollars, Mr. Fazbear."
"You weren't even watching the board and you still know when I'm bleeding cash," Mike muttered as he handed over the cash. "What a shame. It seems that I'm still not bankrupt."
"You'll get there eventually if you keep landing on my spots," Marionette quipped with a coy smile. "I know you can't bear to be away from me, but at this rate you'll be in the poorhouse in a fortnight."
"Isn't that the quickest way out of the game?" Mike challenged with a smirk.
At this point it was evident that Baby would soon be forgotten. Charlie was glad to get back to the game, as she would rather not worry about why Baby acted how she did. If she wanted to figure out Baby, then the only method was the wait and see approach while keeping herself at a safe distance. She wasn't ready to trust Baby anytime soon. In the meantime, it was her turn, and she needed to focus on getting Chica around the board.
Scott nearly collapsed against the front door as soon as Fritz drove off. He leaned back against it and took in a deep breath at the relief of finally having his house back. Then he opened his eyes, saw the broken table, and instantly the breath came out in an exasperated huff. He doubted that he would be able to fix that and wearily looked towards the bedroom door, where Ennard was standing. He sent the amalgam a weary smile.
"Well, she's gone," Scott announced as he pushed off the front door. He collapsed on the couch. "This house is clean."
"Ha! Not when I get done with it," Ennard jested back. He had been largely quiet since the incident earlier but now seemed completely rejuvenated and was completely ignoring what happened. As though Baby leaving was the key to fixing the amount of self-mutilation that happened the hours before. He leaned over the back of the couch, "Didja get to say goodbye?"
"Heh, uh, no. No, I thought it was better if I didn't rile Baby any more than I already did. Trust me, I'm the last person she'll ever want to see… Except maybe you," he playfully added. This got a crackle of laughter from the clown and the Phone Guy smiled a little. "I think that's the closest I've gotten to working the dayshift in a long time. Sorry you had to deal with that," he apologized.
"But it was worth it, right?" Ennard chirped as he leaned down further. "One day with Baby and we get to share the bedroom!"
"I think we technically stayed in there two days," Scott corrected. "It could've felt like longer."
"No, I mean from now on. Our deal. Our fantastic deal which now gives me half of the bed since I put up with Baby," Ennard explained. It was then that Scott realized what the clown was thinking, and his eyes widened. "Ya know, I don't think I get enough of your warmth. This is going to give us a lot more hug time!" the amalgam chirped as he tapped the human on the nose.
"That- Ennard- That wasn't what I meant," Scott tried to deny as he scrambled to sit up. He had meant one night and had unintentionally given Ennard free access to his bed, which was obviously something he hadn't intended on doing. That would mean that he and the animatronic would be together virtually twenty-four seven. Even more than they already were.
"Don't worry, I'm not keeping the body in the room… I'll move that thing out of here! We'll put it where the table used to be!" Ennard obliviously quipped with a giggle. He dropped a hand onto the human's shoulder and walked his wires over it teasingly. "Oh, or ya know what? We could move the fridge into the bedroom! Then we'd never have to leave!"
"Ennard, I don't know about-." Scott was cut off by Ennard suddenly tugging him back and briefly nuzzling into the top of his head with a small squeak.
"I've got a great idea!" Ennard gushed. "We can take the TV in there, mount it like one of those security cameras! Then we'll take out the door to the bathroom and the walls and just make it one big room! I never have to lose sight of you ever again…" The clown gave a dark chuckle as his wires started to wind around Scott's arms. "Together forever," he murmured, his voice lowering deeper. Scott just stared back as he slowly processed the words.
To which Ennard suddenly broke into laughter. "I'm just playing with ya, Scott! Don't get that look! You know I don't like when you get that look of doom," the amalgam said, returning to his previous playfulness. "I wouldn't take away your bedroom. That's the only place you can get away from me, ha ha!" Scott released the held breath of relief as Ennard drew back. "Lemme just get rid of that thing in there. I think it's starting to make you more nervous than usual." He headed towards the bedroom while still laughing.
Though for the Phone Guy, it was a huge relief. The last thing he wanted was Ennard to start acting possessive. Between that and that one time he sounded like…
It was best if Ennard stayed cheerful, playful, and out in the garage. Out sleeping in a broken body or on a mound of sold laundry in the cold, cement garage. After all, it wasn't like he couldn't just come in whenever he wanted. He did so less now, maybe learning to give the human his space in the evening, but that still meant that he had run of the house, save the bedroom, after hours.
Something about this line of thought was beginning to make Scott feel uncomfortable. Perhaps it was the reason why Ennard was in the garage in the first place. It was always to keep the amalgam at a safe distance, even back when he thought said amalgam was Baby, but even after things had become more comfortable he had never transitioned into not using the garage. In a way, it had become Ennard's bedroom since there wasn't a guest room. In another way, it was only slightly less cold than Afton's and with only a few perks of varying significance.
Whatever happened down in Afton Robotics was beginning to haunt Scott. Especially after the taser incident earlier, seeing Baby and Ennard's reactions and Ennard's delayed incident had only made him wonder more about what happened down there. William Afton wasn't a forgiving man, and if he came to believe that you were to blame for something he would make certain that eventually you paid for it. Once you were in his crosshairs it was only a matter of time until you suffered, whether you be a friend, his own child, or even a romantic partner. If he had known they were alive, and he probably did, he could've used them as his personal toys.
And he must have done something to Ennard. How else would Ennard know his voice so well that he was able to mimic it?
Scott was pulled from his thoughts by the sound the Ennard coming back. He was now dragging the Baby shell across the floor and towards the garage, looking just as normal as ever. It was once he reached the garage door that the Phone Guy decided to speak. "…Ennard?"
"Yeah?" Ennard chirped as he tried to wedge the form back through the door with as little effort as possible. "Eh… Maybe I was onto something about breaking down a couple of walls," he said thoughtfully, stepping back to look at the puzzle set out before him. He then gave a hum and reached forward to start taking some of the plates apart. "Maybe if I take the arms off. I can't believe the door shrunk overnight."
"I don't think you should go back out to the garage," Scott finally admitted. The animatronic turned to look at him in confusion. "I mean, you take that out there. Please take that thing out there. I just mean that I don't… I don't think you should have to live in the garage for the rest of your life. That's inhumane."
"But I like the garage!" Ennard chirped. "Besides, I'm not human, ha ha! Never was human, never gonna be."
"It doesn't matter if you're not human, Ennard. I wouldn't keep my cats locked up in a garage, let alone my…" Six or seven-foot-tall wire clown? "…You."
Ennard was watching silently; his fake laughter had ended rather abruptly. Scott knew that what came next was vital and that this was his last chance to make a choice like this. "I think you had the right idea before. We'll figure out a way to share the bedroom. I rather that then knowing that you're out there sleeping on a bunch of dirty laundry. You deserve better than that." This was met with a long, heavy silence.
"Are- Are you su-sure about that?" Ennard's voice began to crack and fluctuate. "Maybe she's right, maybe I'm not- I'm not safe."
"Ennard, I'm scared of everything outside of this house," Scott firmly stated. "I can't even drive out of town anymore because I can't be in the car that long without being afraid that something on me is going to fail and I'm going to wreck. I can't leave the house too long because I'm afraid someone will break in, or something will happen to the cats, or to you. I don't trust people, I'm constantly worried someone's going to come after me for Freddy's, I record most of my phone conversations-!" He gestured back to the shelves of tapes for emphasis as he stood from the couch.
The amalgam sent a slow look towards the shelf but looked back quickly as the human came closer. From his twitching wires it was obvious that he was still on edge. Apparently, he hadn't forgotten whatever happened earlier.
"You're- You're the only person I've felt safe enough with to let down my guard with. It's been years since I've been able to sleep with someone else in the room and not be afraid that they're going to suffocate me in my sleep… And I don't want you to live out in a garage in the cold when I want you in here with me." Scott admitted. Ennard twitched and looked like he was preparing to speak, but the Phone Guy beat him to it. He raised a shaking hand and finished, "And I forgive you for what happened down in Afton's."
He expected a moment of silence. Silence usually meant that Ennard had to process whatever reaction came next. He usually needed to carefully construct whatever emotions he wanted to portray. Instead, Ennard immediately reached for him and pulled him into a hug. This wasn't an unexpected reaction either, though it was much more gentle than usual.
"Aww, Scottie! All ya had to do was ask!" the clown chirped, surprisingly upbeat considering the conversation that had just occurred. "Did you let Baby come just to get me out of the garage?"
"Yeah, you got me. It was all an elaborate hoax," Scott agreed with a teasing smile. "It was either that or coaxing you out with popcorn and boarding up the door while you were out."
And then everything was oddly silent. The arms tightened around him, showing that Ennard wasn't intending on releasing soon, but the laughter had disappeared. It all seemed rather desperate.
"Ennard?" Scott was starting to become concerned. The clown gave a muffled answer in a voice that didn't sound like his usual one. It was just hushed enough that Scott couldn't recognize it. Maybe it was better that way, because there was no going back on this now. He knew he was making the right choice.
Mable: And where one arc ends, a new one begins. See you next week!... Hopefully on time this time. XD