Foxy's Vexing

"How did I let myself get talked into this?" David murmured to himself.

He certainly didn't like to think himself as someone of a nervous disposition. If anything, he liked to think he was pretty self-assured and confident. Few things could shake him. Except maybe that horror movie Halloween, but who wouldn't be a little freaked out by that? Michael Myers was creepy in that mask.

Relatively speaking, that was almost the situation he was dealing with now. Hiding away from something wearing a freaky mask that was out to get him. Except it was a whole group of them and he wasn't allowed to run. He just had to sit here and wait. No gun either, just heavy security doors and his camera monitors.

That babysitter chick had it easy with Myers.

He flinched a bit when he saw Bonnie standing in the backstage area, staring up at the camera and completely stock still. The kids might love the costumes they wore, but to David and some other adults, they just looked creepy. Seeing them at night didn't make it much better.

David had presented his idea to them a few days ago. They played Red Light, Green Light with the kids and David had hatched on the idea after seeing his security setup while thinking of things they could do at night. It would be something the whole group could do, it would keep them active at night and it would be fun.

Foxy was down for it in a heartbeat. Chica seemed tentative but she said she'd give it a go. Freddy said it sounded like a wonderful idea. Bonnie had been frowning thoughtfully when she'd added her own little condition for their first trial run of the game. She insisted that it was because they needed continued practice wearing them which the others had all agreed on, but David had seen her smirk.

She must have heard him comment off hand how creepy he found the suits and one thing had led to another. Those damn ears of hers…

David glared at her through the camera, imagining that smirk underneath. He turned his attention to other monitors. Freddy was the only one on the stage, but he was facing the camera. He too was still as a statue. Another part of the Green Light aspect was that if the camera was on them, they had to stand still. Something another member of their group was having a bit of trouble with.

He jumped a fraction when he heard the sound of pots and pans clattering around. He checked the kitchen camera and groaned when he saw the feed was out again. That was the third time Chica had broken it. Just how self-conscious was that girl? Well, at least he knew where she was. Every time she went through the kitchen, she ended up knocking into something.

He checked back with Bonnie and could make out her silhouette in the dining room. Were they deliberately trying to creep him out? Back to Freddy. He resumed his original position on stage but still hadn't moved beyond it. The clattering told him Chica was still in the kitchen. Suddenly, he just remembered someone he'd forgotten to check.

But when he changed to Pirate Cove, the curtains were still closed and there was no sign of its occupant. David frowned. Foxy was clear on his special rule that if David didn't keep an eye on him or checked him too frequently, the fox pirate was allowed to move and it had been a while since he'd checked him. Maybe he was just trying to lure him into a false sense of security. He watched it for a bit longer and changed views.

Bonnie was now standing at the end of the west hall. The bulb in that light was starting to fizzle out and she was deliberately standing beneath the flickering light so David could only just make her out. She was definitely enjoying this.

A clattering in the dining hall got his attention. He flicked back to see Chica having bumped into one of the tables and knocked over a couple of chairs and party hats. She was apologising profusely while she tried to right her mistake, noticed she was being watched and froze. What she had was an odd expression where her beak was open, her head tilted to one side and looking rather… derpy.

He saved her from embarrassment by flicking to where Bonnie might be. But she wasn't on any of the closest cameras. Which had to mean…

He pressed the button for the light outside. He cried out when he saw her leering in the doorway, her crimson irises flashing in the dark. Quick as he could, David slammed his fist on the door button and barred her entrance.

"Aw crud!" she complained.

He could just make out the sound of her feet padding back down the hall. He waited until he couldn't hear anymore, then opened the door again. He realised how tense he was and let out a breath. Those suits really were freaky.

And he'd neglected Foxy again. He urgently switched over, knowing Foxy had to have taken advantage of it this time.

But on checking Pirate Cove, David saw that there was still no sign of Foxy. Considering how excited he'd been when he first suggested the idea, it didn't seem feasible he didn't want to join in. That settled it. Something was wrong.

"Guys, guys! Time out!" he called whilst walking out of his office. "Time out!"

"Aw, what?" Bonnie emerged from the storeroom. "I was just coming up with my next brilliant plan of attack."

"Yes, because the last one worked out so well," he remarked.

"Screw you, dude," she retorted. "You got lucky."

"Careful, Bonnie. This is a kid's restaurant."

"And this is downtime. I can say whatever I damn well-"

"No cussin', Bonnie," warned Freddy as he stepped off the stage. "We have to remain respectable and appropriate, even when we're not on duty."

David heard Bonnie grumble, but she didn't try to argue.

"Is something wrong?" asked Chica, coming out of the kitchen. "I-I'm sorry I keep making such a ruckus, I just… I'll t-try and do better."

"It's nothing you did, Chica," assured David. "It's Foxy. He hasn't come out of his Cove once for the whole game, even though I forgot to keep watching him."

"Yes, I'd noticed." Freddy sighed. "I thought this would help take his mind off of things, but it seems I was mistaken."

"Why? Is there something wrong?" asked David.

"Yeah. He lost it a little with one of the parents and he's been kind of bummed out about it," said Bonnie. "I didn't think he'd make such a big deal out of it either."

"He did seem down about something when I came in," recalled David. "I'll go and have a talk with him."

"We'll go with you," offered Chica. "Poor Foxy. We should have noticed something was wrong earlier…"

They walked up to his curtain, David approaching first. Taking out his torch, he pulled it back and stepped inside. The others hung back on the fringe, for coming all at once wouldn't let them fit.

"Yo, Foxy!" called Bonnie right next to David. "You in here?"

"Wha- GEEZ!" He jumped a foot when he shone his torch on Bonnie and saw her suited face practically touching his. "Don't do that!"

"What? Not my fault you're so jumpy," she sniggered.

He raised an eyebrow. "Did you do that on purpose?"

"No, but that doesn't mean I'm not happy with the results," she replied.

David just shook his head and shone his torch around in the dark of the Cove, inching forward while looking around.

"Foxy? Are you back here?" he called.

"Eh?" His silhouette rose from further back. "David? That ye, lad?"

"What are we? Spare parts?" quipped Bonnie.

"Bon?" He looked past her to see the others. "Wha' are ye all doin' here?"

"Checkin' up on you," answered Freddy. "You really can't let what happened today get to you."

"I'm not," said Foxy quickly. "I already told ye, I'm fine. So, when we startin' our lil' game?"

"Five minutes ago," answered Bonnie. "I hollered to you about it before we started and we've not seen you at all. What's bugging you?"

"Nothin', I'm fine," insisted Foxy. "Ye don' need ta worry 'bout me."

"But we are worried, Foxy," said Chica. "You haven't been out at all tonight and you're being very distant. You shouldn't let what that woman said bother you."

"I'm not lettin' it bother me, I'm fine." Foxy's tone was hardening now.

"Sorry, I'm clearly missing something here," said David. "What happened today?"

"Nothin' happened so keep yer nose out of it!" snapped Foxy.

"Foxy!" Freddy was fixing him with a hard glare. "Mind your tone. David's only askin' because he wants to help."

"I don't need-!" Foxy realised he was shouting and took a moment to calm down. "I… I'm sorry. Sorry, Dave."

"Don't worry about it. Seriously though, what's gotten you so wound up?" asked David. "What happened today?"

"An incident with a parent," filled in Chica. "A single mother who came in with her four children. One of those parents that come here to find a way to keep their kids occupied, but she looked very tense while she was here."

"She did seem like she didn't want to be here," chimed in Bonnie. "I heard her complaining to herself the whole time she was here. I did ask her what was up, but she just flinched like I'd spat in her food. We get parents like that sometimes, even some kids."

"And one of her boys was playin' with Foxy," continued Freddy. "Havin' a grand time ridin' around on his shoulders when it seemed like his ma' had enough for the day. She came up to her son, still ridin' on Foxy's shoulders tellin' him to and I quote, 'get off that hideous thing and let's go home.'"

"Bu' the lad was still havin' fun and he wanted ta stay longer. She tried ta pull 'im off me shoulders, ended up pullin' too hard and made him cry." Foxy shook his head. "I don't know wha' happened. I jus'… snapped."

"Oh crud," muttered David. "Nothing happened, did it?"

"Nah, come on," dismissed Bonnie. "Foxy may have a short fuse sometimes, but he's not gonna hurt anyone. He scared the heck out of that mom for sure and Freddy had to come over and check on everything. He apologised to her while me and Chica checked on Foxy, but she just gathered up her kids and got out faster than anything."

"He shouted at her. He looked like he might grab her," murmured Chica. "It was um… well…"

"I scared 'em," said Foxy bluntly. "I scared her, probably scared her lil' ones too an' all the others. I had to go in me Cove to calm down fer a bit."

"Well, what's the big deal then?" wondered David. "Everyone loses their temper over something. Just so long as you calm down and get over it, it's fine."

"Yeah. So what if some lady thinks you're hideous? Your suit's definitely the ugliest out of all of us. And what's underneath isn't much better."

"Bonnie, I don't think that's helping," said Chica in an aside.

"What? It's true."

"It's not tha', though it didn't help," he growled. Then his face slackened. "For a moment there, I… I thought… I didn't know wha' I was doin' an' when it was over, I… she was hurtin' him… and I almost hurt her."

"You wouldn't have," said David. "You guys aren't like that."

"Bu' it happened so fast. If I hadn't stopped meself, if Freddy hadn't stepped in…"

"Yeah, but you did and he did. What's the problem?" shrugged Bonnie. "Sure, that lady may be a bit freaked out for a while but don't let it get to you. You were just fine when you came out after you'd cooled off."

"Aye, I know bu' the look on her face she had…" Foxy shook his head. "I couldn't stop seein' it, even while I was workin'. I was only… I didn't want her ta hurt him…"

"We understand, Foxy," assured Freddy. "We all have a responsibility to make sure the children in our care come to no harm. I admire your devotion, but you just need to try and calm down if somethin' like that happens again."

"It'll be fine," said David. "If you feel so bad about it, I'm sure you'll be more careful if it does happen again."

"I'm not so sure meself," murmured Foxy. "I mean, wha' if-?"

"Dude, get over it," insisted Bonnie. "So you blew your lid at someone. So what? Not like you bit their head off or anything."

"We know you'd never do anything to hurt anyone, Foxy," said Chica gently.

"And the others will all be right there just in case," put in David. "It's okay if you lost your temper, you're not perfect. You're only human." Silence fell for a moment after that. "Well, you're not but… oh forget it, you know what I mean."

"David's right," agreed Freddy. "Try to let it go, Foxy. It won't do you any good wonderin' what may or may not have been."

Foxy still looked doubtful. But looking around at their encouraging expressions that even seemed to show through their masks, he nodded reluctantly.

"Alrigh'… sorry for worryin' ye all," he said quietly. "Jus' let this get ta me."

"You're telling us. If you didn't stop beating yourself up over this, I was tempted just to do it myself. In fact…" She walked up and punched him hard on the arm. "There."

"Argh!" He rubbed his arm and glared at her. "Did ye have ta do that?"

"Yep."

"Ye really know how to wind me up, lass." David could hear a hint of a smile in his voice.

"And don't you just love me for it?" said Bonnie proudly.

"Bonnie," scolded Chica and approached Foxy, patting his arm. "Everything will be fine, Foxy. Never forget you have us with you and David as well. We look out for each other, like we always do. You know that."

"Aye. But it's always nice hearin' it. Thank ye, Chica. All of ye," he said sincerely.

"No problem, better than seeing you slinking around back here," said David lightly. "Come on, let's get on with the game. Maybe without the suits this time," he added.

"Aw, come on!" complained Bonnie. "That was what made this fun!"

"I'm with David on this," said Foxy. "I can run a lot faster without this blasted thing weighin' me down an' I'll make sure we board his ship in no time!"

"That's the spirit, Foxy," encouraged Chica. "And um, I'd rather play without my suit as well. Sorry, Bonnie."

"I agree." Freddy took off his mask. "I admit, my movement feels more encumbered wearin' it."

"What? You barely moved!" insisted David.

"I was simply waitin' for the opportune moment to act," countered Freddy. "My strategy requires careful consideration."

"No offense, boss, but there's lying in wait and then there's doing diddly squat," put in Bonnie. "But I guess it wouldn't hurt to see how well we do without these things. Maybe Chica will wreck less of the kitchen this time."

"I-I was just f-flustered!" she insisted. "B-But these suits are bulky… maybe it will help."

"Only one way to find out." David cracked his fingers and turned towards the security room. "Let's see if you can actually get me this time."

He glanced at Pirate's Cove as he passed. Foxy was peering out and gave him a grateful smile before vanishing back inside. David just hoped their confidence in Foxy wouldn't be misplaced.

Hey guys, I'm back!

My essay has been finished and I'm ready to return to work on these stories. Sorry for the long wait and thank you all for being so patient with me. I promise I will try to make the wait worth it.

Review response time!

Baloon: Sorry, but I don't intend on adding any OCs to this story. The personalities I've assigned and the whole concept is enough to be going by without extra characters, thank you. But don't let that stop you from writing your own story based on the character.

Guest (1): Now, I can't give away all the details, can I? ;)

Alexis: Have no fear, I will. I've just been busy with real life stuff.

Guest (2): Thank you, it means a lot to hear that.

Klff: I don't know who you all are, but it's nice to have a dedicated group behind me on these stories. Glad you're enjoying them.

Hope you all continue to enjoy the story.

Be strong, be swift, be just.