A/N: I am Isiga and I love Backstory! (bonus points to anyone who read it in Caboose's voice) but anyway :3 This chapter is almost all backstory for you guys. I know this update was quick! Please do not expect further updates quite as fast this chapter just really rolled it rolled really fast and really well. That being said it was a relatively easy update to complete. Also, I know I promised smut! It is next chapter I'm working on it right now I promise :3
CAUTION! This chapter contains information and situations that may be somewhat disturbing to some people but alas they are somewhat important for character development and understanding. I decided to be as vague as possible with some things while still getting the point across so if any information is not clear please feel free to ask me anything in the comments. Furthermore, yes this chap is heavily inspired by the new game BUT it is not a theory chap in any way!
TW's: descriptions of violence, descriptions of bullying, mental illness, mentions of death, mentions of child neglect, mentions human experimentation, vague descriptions of extreme maiming and injury, and descriptions of hallucinations
Author's Additional Note (please read!)
A good portion of this chapter is told through the eyes of an individual with schizophrenia (a mental illness that causes sever hallucinations, damages your grip on what is real and what is imagined, and in some cases cripples social abilities to those who do not know) and may be slightly difficult or confusing to read to some people! It is meant to be this way as this story is told through a 2nd Person style. If you have any questions ask away. I will either answer with an answer or tell you it will be explained in later chapters.
Enjoy ^^
Be Vincent
The kids here never did like you...especially after the accident...you're different now, you're damaged...well...the doctors say so anyway. You say...you're just better than them more advanced you don't feel pain anymore like they do. You're superior. Too bad your brother doesn't seem to get that their words mean nothing to you anymore. Too sweet for his own good he "protects you" the poor little kid in the too big for him purple sweater with the brain problem. He doesn't need to, you don't need protecting. The weak do not protect the strong. Meh oh well one of these days he will see. One of these days you'll be the one the other kids have to go through to get to him. For now though, for now you wait, for now you observe, and through a smile all your own you send them running anyway. Let Jer think he's playing the hero, its kinda cute but you know now...you know heroes don't exist. You know there's not much that's good in life your father told you so, and father simply knows best.
You leave their stupid little party you weren't a part of it anyway to be honest descending the stairs in the back room two at a time to get to him faster with a smile on your face and a bunny in your hand. You love the new animatronics your father introduced and the even newer ones he's working on, Bonnie's your favorite though he's purple...you always loved purple. But its not just that of course, bunnies are cute and soft and bring comfort and joy especially to those who are sick or hurting...like him. You make it to the bottom and look at the blue bunny in your hands, Toy Bonnie is what you think your dad is calling this one, you're gonna call him Bon-Bon though. His design is gonna be used for entertaining the toddlers sometime in the future but...he likes blue...well...red is his favorite but blue is a close second. Still...you feel skeptical.
"What do you think, Bonnie?"
You pull the purple rabbit out of your sweater hood where he's been riding he can't walk after all.
"I think he'll love it, Vinc, it's thoughtful of you to bring him a present."
You smile and hold the bunny tight. He's your friend he wouldn't lead you astray surly he'll like Bon-Bon. You put him back in your hood and press in the combination on the hidden door in front of you letting it swing open with ease granting you access to the whitest of white halls and the utter silence that is the underground tunnel system linking the pizzeria to the Institute. You pad along in comfortable quiet you're friends are being awfully sleepy today they're almost always with you in spirit even if you don't have their dolls. Bonnie hums in your ear softly keeping you company as you make your way through the twists and turns of the tunnel system til you reach another door hidden from the outside world. With yet another code it swings open for you reveling more pristine white halls but this area has a little bit of sound. Growls and quiet chain rattles can be heard all around the area the smells of disinfectants are prominent to your sinuses as you happily trot down the hall to his room opening the door with a small squeak.
You peek around it seeing him in his crate his terrified look melting to a comforted one when he sees you. You don't understand why he's afraid. Your father takes care of everyone here he doesn't need to be scared.
"He may just still be getting used to the place surely your present will make him feel better."
You nod Bonnie's right. It takes a while to get used to a place he'll be comfy soon.
"Hi Phone I brought you a plushie. Father's been working on the new designs so mother's been making lots of plushies. She's not done with the Foxy ones yet I know he's your favorite but I brought you Bon-Bon for the time being."
You reach through the bars of his crate with the blue rabbit in hand a smile splitting across your face when he takes it from you with a sort of half smile.
"Thank you Vinc I love him."
He hugs it close smiling at you more through the creaking of his metal leg as he adjusts. It brings an embarrassed blush to his face. You don't understand what's wrong with it. So what if he's a little different? You like that about him.
"And he likes you for being different."
You smile to Bonnie and pull him out of your sweater again.
"That's why I like him Bonnie. He's not like the other kids."
You give the rabbit a hug and unlike all the kids upstairs Phone doesn't complain that he can't hear him talking or tell you he's not real he just watches you and holds onto Bon-Bon quietly.
"Father says mother is really sick. Says she has cancer and that it'll take her soon."
Your hold on Bonnie tightens as he hums soothingly to you. Phone looks like he's about to talk again before the door behind you opens.
"Master Vincent?"
The coat looks surprised to see you as you just blink up at him.
"You shouldn't be in here your father has been wondering where you ran off to."
He grabs your arm not hard or anything just enough to help you stand again and escorts you out of the small room as you wave over your shoulder to the other dark haired boy. The coat escorts you all the way back to the diner before disappearing again leaving you in the backroom once more.
The monitor makes a weird sound that you don't like. It doesn't beep anymore it just makes that terrible sound. One note, flat, and constant. After that...you don't see her anymore its just father, Jer, and you. Weeks turn to months that pass by hazily and terribly slowly and the pizzeria begins to fall into a sort of disarray. People still come, people still love it, they love the characters, they love the pizza thankfully she left you her recipe. They still have fun Fred Bear and Friend's Family Diner is still a happy place to them. But not for you. Father is absent more and more leaving the managers to see to the diner while he sees to your family's science labs through the tunnels and into the Institute. Without him around it seems the other kids have taken more notice of you.
They steal your friends all the time...Foxy has lost his head you'll have to put him back together before you can bring him to Phone but you're not very good at sewing. His repairs are taking a while. Chica needs a bath and Fred Bear a new bow tie because of them but thankfully Bonnie stays intact and by your side until today.
"Come on shorty jump for him."
One of your many problems dangles the distressed rabbit above your head pulling him up every time you jump for him. His laughter is loud and obnoxious, you absolutely detest it's sound. They all laugh as he tosses your friend to one of the others.
"What did you say Bonnie? You wanna get closer to Bon Bunny? That sounds like a great idea."
They wander off being sure to drag you along by your sweater up to the stage their laughter is so loud its drowning out the distressed sounds Bonnie makes as they shove him into the maw of his older cousin, Bon Bunny.
"Why don't you go get him if you want him so badly, cry baby."
They laugh more and more as two of them pick you up with ease another doing the hand crank on the side while the main bully pulls off the rabbit's head so they can effectively shove you inside the suit despite your desperate cries. They close the lid and you're not anywhere near tall enough for this suit. You shake in terror as you strain your feet trying to roll onto your toes enough to see out the eye slots or at least out of the mouth. Their laughter rings in your ears and at least you have your rabbit to hold on to.
"It'll be ok, Vinc, don't be scared I'm here with y-"
A snap cuts him off your world goes red as you screech in the last wave of pain you'll ever feel again.
The monitors beep again but this time they're for you...the spring locks didn't hold at least not all the way they tore you up and damaged a good portion of your nerves...you weren't supposed to make it but somehow you did. Somehow you made it without any need for amputations or anything too big just a lot of stitching and don't feel anything anymore though. Your mind is hollow you don't feel the pricks the needles used to give. They say you have several broken bones and you can see row after row after row of stitches all over your body but you feel none of it. You can't feel pain anymore. Perhaps this is a good thing for you.
Father never shows up at home anymore well not very often or for long. He doesn't believe you when you tell him your friends are being strange. It happens every night at midnight like clockwork. Every night since Bon Bunny's metal parts released on you. Since the older kids stuffed you inside him...now none of them are acting right. They're fine during the day...they're fun and normal and they love you but as soon as the clock strikes twelve...everything changes. Every night they peek through your door with glowing eyes and way too many teeth in their smiles. You've started sleeping in Jeremy's room he doesn't mind he holds a flashlight lighting up the room for you he wants to catch them. At least your little brother believes you. He holds onto the torch shining it around the room as you hold one of the doors shut. You can hear them. Bonnie is breathing in your ear right outside the door. He doesn't bang on the door, he doesn't push, he just stands there breathing heavily while Chica runs around the house. You press your ear to the door. Ok you don't hear him anymore you let go of the handle letting the door open slightly before you run to the other door listening for the much lighter breathing that tends to be present on this side. You hear nothing so you pull out your own flashlight and shine it down the hall checking vigilantly. Your eyes hurt from this nightly dance you do with them. You're tired, exhausted really but you can't go to sleep. You can't close your eyes. Behind you the soft sounds of Jeremy snoring fills your alert ears. You can't let them get him too. They already hurt you. They didn't mean it though...you know that. You hear a small creak join the snoring behind you.
The closet!
You turn off your light and run to the closet shutting it tight in your friend's face until he settles down. He doesn't like that the closet doesn't close all the way.
"I'm sorry Foxy I'll fix it soon I promise just please calm down the others are coming."
You peek in whole body shaking as you check on him. He sits on the floor now tail happily wagging as he smiles at leave the closet now rushing to Bonnie's door he's always the most active. His breathing is heavy behind the door once more so you hold it shut as tight as you can sparing a glace to the alarm clock on your brother's nightstand. So close 5:45. You're so close. Bonnie appears to lose interest you can hear his heavy footfalls as he leaves and you let go of the door turning your light on the bed.
"Freddy! Shoo! Jer is trying to sleep go back to your bed!"
You whisper shout at the small, dapper bear as he dives back under Jeremy's bed to his own little one that you made under there for them all. With a shaky breath and a silent thank you to whatever power is up there it wasn't Fred Bear instead of Freddy you dart over to Chica's door before she sends her cupcake for you. You shut the door tightly at the sound of her light breathing holding your own breath until she leaves and the grandfather clock in the living room goes off with six loud bangs. You release the door and check under the bed. You look to your friends they sleep now. They're back to normal now. Now you too can rest.
Be Phil
You shake him gently as he twitches violently in his sleep. You worry your lower lip as you try to get him to wake from whatever painful dream he's having. Its times like this you forget how terrible he is. When he's got his head resting heavily on his desk twitching and whining in pain as his overwhelming imagination eats his mind and sense of reality alive. The pills don't help they never have you rub his back with your hands doing everything you can to not snag his coat on your metal one...again. He never gets mad at you for it but its embarrassing. He whimpers and twitches harder making his chair roll a little and causing him to wake with a start.
"Jer!"
He looks around the room pupils wide you know he doesn't see what you do right now his mind has melded it blended the pristine room with the wallpaper and paints of the old diner. Or perhaps his old home where he and his brother would be stashed and ignored for weeks on end left to their own devices, a ten year old schizophrenic and a five year old alone in a house with doors that didn't close very well talking to animals nobody else could see or hear. But they had personality they had voices to him They still do you catch him quite often having full blown conversations with things you can't see. You've long since dismissed it. You're stuck here you can't do anything about it so you might as well help him so he doesn't have to suffer so much. He's the reason his father didn't kill you after all. He's the reason you're alive. You have him to thank really, all those years ago when your experiment failed there was no reason for them to keep you. Yet he convinced his father to keep you said that you had a captivating voice that it would be helpful to have someone who was charismatic to describe how to get in and out of suits safely to the staff and recite the rules every now and then in the diner. That's all it took really to keep you alive. For that you are forever in debt. Violet clad arms wrap around your middle and a wet face buries itself into your stomach as you run a hand through his hair cooing softly that everything is ok...the words feel as wrong as they always have.
''Hello, hello? Hey you're doing great! Most people don't last this long. I mean, you know, they usually move on to other things by now. I'm not implying that they died. Th-th-that's not what I meant. Uh, anyway I better not take up too much of your time. Things start getting real tonight. Uh...Hey, listen, I had an idea: if you happen to get caught and want to avoid getting stuffed into a Freddy suit, uhh, try playing dead! You know, go limp. Then there's a chance that, uh, maybe they'll think that you're an empty costume instead. Then again if they think you're an empty costume, they might try to... stuff a metal skeleton into you. I wonder how that would work. Yeah, never mind, scratch that. It's best just not to get caught. Um...Ok, I'll leave you to it. See you on the flip side."
You hope that doesn't sound too forced...you're supposed to sound like you're actually there that you're working the shift that you watch the new guy work now. You grimace at the sound of your own voice in a recording talk back to you through the cameras its a miracle really that Vincent thought your voice was worth saving from his father...now you're never without protection. You guess its a good thing. Sort of. You bite your lip and spare a glance to his younger brother who sits next to you. Jeremy you remember his name was not that you talk to him much. He works in the pizzeria itself during the day so you don't see him much. You hold up the remote control tablet to him with what you hope is a comforting smile. Vinc doesn't like to do this much he likes it when the spirits he stuck in the suits can do their work and entertain him but his little brother really likes this guy so he shoved the remote in your hands quickly taught you how to change characters and controls on his first night and told you to see to it he lived. That was music to your ears.
Bonnie is quick to be on the move like he always is. You use sound boxes around the pizzeria to distract him only tapping into his servos if absolutely necessary. He's collected as always this Mike Schmidt. Closing doors only when they're right outside nearly taking the purple rabbit's nose off a few times and really only checking Pirate Cove and the main stage in the way of cameras relying the rest of the way on his door lights to preserve power. Smart use of the power really most people don't make it simply because they don't use their power effectively. You watch the cameras and doors even closer than he does distracting Chica while he slams the door down just in time to halt Foxy. Surprisingly, Freddy is being very nice even without you but you know by his fifth night the giant bear is gonna be a really big problem. You bite your lower lip this is a little harder tonight they're much more active you've already had quite a few close calls. He forgets the right door as he puts the camera up but thankfully he quickly corrects himself. Shit don't screw up like that new guy. Jeremy looks like he's gonna be sick next to you as his little crush curses to himself.
"I can't make mistakes like that...shit that's exactly what I didn't want now Freddy's out."
He grumbles to himself and you desperately flip through the cameras looking for the bear. Its only 2 am if Freddy's out and not contained he could be in serious trouble.
"Problems, Phone?"
You jump in your seat at the sound of him right behind you. Its hard but you're gonna have to swallow your pride for the sake of the new guy.
"I think I may have messed up, sir."
He gives your back a gentle push requesting you to stand.
"No need to panic, Phone. I've danced this dance with them for a very long time. Play a noise in the back room lead Freddy there to buy some time then hand it off to me."
You feel like that's a very bad idea but you stand anyway playing a sound in the back room over a speaker there. Thankfully the bear is quick to investigate but due to his heaviness it does take him a while to get there providing optimal time for him to take the pad from you and pull you into his lap.
"Let's see what our dear friends are doing shall we."
He flicks through the cameras with incredible speed quickly accounting for everybody and making loud sounds in the halls not for the characters but for Mike when they're getting close a tactic you didn't think about. Sounds of footsteps draw his attention to where it needs to be letting him close doors just in time and get back into his pattern.
"Yes he is doing very well I have to agree with you, Fred Bear."
It takes a moment for you to register nobody said anything in the room. You hope he doesn't begin to see things on the screen. You're not sure that his imagines translate over to the technology but you'd hate for him to hallucinate something and combat against said something resulting in this guy's death. Jeremy leans against his brother watching the screen like a hawk as the night progresses seems, like to you, his brother's random bursts of speech to things he can't see or hear are easily dismissed as something normal.
"Oh, now now Foxy we'll be having none of that tonight. Back in your cove with you, eat a Snickers, and chill out. Apologies, Phone, if you wanted to see your favorite in action perhaps with the next guy. I sort of like this one too he will be a fine pair for you brother."
He ruffles Jeremy's hair as he hooks onto Foxy's servos and calms him down a bit so the new guy doesn't get a second hit from him tonight. Even you're not sure the generator could take two hits from the pirate in one night. Or at least not in the span of two hours.
"He's very good. Manages the power very well I actually don't need to do a whole lot."
He smiles at the screen obviously having fun with this.
"Now now Bonnie that's no way to treat a welcomed guest."
He tsks as Mike slams the door down in the rabbit's face.
"Oh beat me to the punch, very good."
He flicks through more cameras as the new guy mumbles to himself and checks the lights illuminating Bonnie's face in the window.
"You're still here...very good," he rolls his eyes closing the other door and checking cameras again, "Chica's in the kitchen just please don't try to bring me more cupcakes...thank you Foxy for staying there...Freddy where are you?"
Vincent frowns next to you pulling the cameras up again and flicking through with a look of irritation.
"Where is he indeed...oh there he is."
Freddy stares right into the camera in the hallway seems the new guy finds him too as he lets out a loud sigh scrubbing his face and taking deep breathes.
"You need to quit freaking out, Mike. It doesn't matter where they are as long as they aren't right outside and now that Freddy's out the only camera you should be checking is Pirate Cove. There's no point in checking anywhere else just listen for them. As long as you close the door every single time you raise the camera he won't be a bother."
With one more heavy exhale and a check of the clock and power level he lights up his door again.
"Bonnie's gone, thank hell."
He lifts the door again closing the other and checking Foxy who seems a bit antsy again. Vincent remedies that again rerouting Chica too before he can miss her in his doorway.
"At least Golden is being kind."
He seems to mutter more to himself than to either of you as his leg twitches bouncing you in his lap a little. His face is screwed up in concentration more like a speed runner playing a video game than the only person keeping this guy alive.
"Almost...just a few more minutes."
You almost feel sick from how much he's bouncing you now as he concentrates on the screen. As if the world around him no longer exists a grin splitting his face with a single phrase as the robots seem to lock up and head back to their positions on the stage at the sound of the clock.
"Check mate."
"Yes! I did it! Oh my god, that. was. incredibly. stressful!"
Mike jumps up and down in his office flicking the camera to the show stage to flip the robots off as he cheers at the fact that he still has his life and you swear you can even see an almost happy smile paint your human chair's face at the display.
"Two more nights, then you can have him, Jer."
You can tell the blond isn't exactly fond of the man on the screen being talked about like a piece of meat or toy but he merely nods to his brother its safest to not argue with him. Less risk of a random violent outburst that way. He pats your leg as a sign for you to get up as he leaves the both of you alone with the camera feed once more.
"This is not worth $120 a week...maybe a six figure salary but not this ugh..."
Mike's words ramble through the camera as he gathers the few things he brought with him probably for comfort sake or, if the pistol is anything to go by, as a last resort.
"Nice work, Phil..."
You turn to Jeremy who stands next to you looking almost nervous as he runs a hand through his own hair.
"I really didn't do much. Was your brother really...kinda scary how good he was at that."
You scratch the back of your neck as Jeremy gnaws on his lip looking behind him quickly before turning back to you.
"He used to...see this...like every night this same situation would terrorize him in the room we ended up sharing as kids. I never did understand what he saw, honestly I still don't understand but I've learned to just kinda pretend I can see it all too. Our father never even humored the idea that there was something wrong with Vinc...he didn't want to admit there was an issue even after the accident left him unable to really feel he still denied it. Hid away from us kids forever until he brought Vinc into this. But you know all about that..."
You just stare at the blond. He's paused the feed right at a point that you can see framed hazel eyes in the camera under messy dark hair shining slightly with nervous sweat. He seems to shake himself out of his strange daze.
"Oh...um...wow this is really creepy and that was way more info than I'm sure you ever wanted."
He hastily cuts the camera feed practically tossing the control pad back onto your desk as he turns for the door.
"I honestly don't mind but what do you mean by the accident?"
He seems to go ridged his back tensing up as he looks over his shoulder at you. You remember a time, when you were children, there was a couple months that he didn't come to see you. It was abnormal for him. It was quiet. When he came back you asked him if something had happened and he said it wasn't important offering you a Foxy plush to play with through the bars. He apologized for how late he was with him. You didn't understand.
"It happened in the original diner...I should've been there...maybe he wouldn't be so bad if I had been there. If I had been there to help him...His hallucinations became so much stronger after that...they became a constant thing it went from a group of imaginary friends to an imaginary universe. With imaginary entities telling him that people who didn't look like people to him were bad people that would hurt other people...the way the bullies hurt him. Justifying to him what our father wanted him to do. I won't justify what he's done...its crazy what he's done but in his mind he was saving the many by sacrificing the few unlike dad...dad didn't have a reason to kill so many. Imagined or otherwise."
You try not to interrupt or bring him back to the actual question you asked he seems to need someone, someone who knows nothing to help him. To help him grasp and deal with the things that happened to and around him all those years ago.
"I could have stopped them...I could have prevented them from shoving him in that suit...but I wasn't there...I wasn't around...I knew something was off about him and I just let him wander the diner on his own."
You pull him back into the chair he was sitting in by his sleeve. His blue eyes are distant, he's far from here, he's not in the seat next to you as he fidgets. But still...the words come out like a waterfall. Like they've been repressed for a long long time.
"I remember the screech...it filled the whole diner. The sickening sound of crunching bones and tearing flesh. Everything stopped it was as if time itself froze for that moment. We couldn't even remove him from the metal crossbeams or he would bleed out. All we could do was remove the head of the suit thankfully most of the upper body's springs held and his head was left untouched save for a couple scrapes. I remember waiting for the ambulance holding my hand in front of his mouth to make sure he was still breathing even as blood poured out of it."
You're frozen instinctively holding his hand to comfort him or perhaps yourself as he continues eyes still distant as he recalls what happened.
"They had to take the whole suit to the hospital they couldn't remove him from it til they got there. I rode with him father wasn't there and mother had long since succumbed to her cancer...I was the only one there for him when he woke in the ambulance...when he saw the metals and wires running through himself. I was the only one he looked up from the stretcher to as they knocked him out before he could begin to register the pain. He looked so scared right then...I haven't seen that look sense...Its been all calculated gazes and toothy smiles. One could argue its because he's an adult now but its not that...its as if...as if those bullies took his humanity as well as his dignity, and his sense of reality, and his ability to feel much of anything at all...its not fair...he's not a good guy now...but...but he could have been...he could have been great..."
He looks at you now not through you tears pouring down his face as he fidgets more. You know he won't ask it would make him feel like a burden so you simply offer your open arms to him. You offer comfort that he gratefully takes burying himself into your button up letting you rub his back as the sun rises with brilliant golds and pinks that seem to absolutely mock him.