"Hey, it's time for you to wake up little pup." The boy is gently shaken awake, who is at first reluctant to leave his dreamless sleep. He rubs his eyes as he sits up with a big yawn, right away he felt much more invigorated than the previous days and nights. Upon observing his surroundings, he discovers that they were back inside Roxanne's room, with Chica nowhere in sight. Speaking of Roxy, it wasn't even a minute before she planted herself beside him. She even had a slice of pizza along with a cup of water on the table in front of him.
"What time is it?" He groggily inquires, the sleepiness barely starting to melt away.
"It is 5:30 right now. I just wanted to know if you needed anything before the day officially begins." The boy looks down on himself, only one detail was worth any real concern for him. However, he couldn't bring himself to admit to his most severe injury.
"I'm fine for now. Just another…week or two, then maybe I'll be able to move on my own." Small hints of fear showing on his face. The wolf tilts her head suspiciously, she doesn't like the sudden tension that the question brought forth.
"There is something you're not telling me, what is wrong?"
"Nothing, really."
"Please tell me, I want to help you feel better little pup." He pauses, contemplating on whether or not he should admit to both her and himself the reality of his injury.
"...I think I'm going to need more bandages soon." Roxanne raises a brow.
"Really? But I changed them roughly six hours ago."
"Well it doesn't hurt to have spares, right?" He forces a smile.
"...Alright then, if it makes you feel better, I'll get some more if possible."
Roxy sighs, this isn't the first time a kid has lied to her, and it certainly won't be the last. But something about him lying feels different from all the other times. She makes a mental note to press him later when he is in a more cooperative mood.
She suddenly remembers the items that he hasn't been given yet, maybe it would be enough for him to open up more.
"Moving on from that, I have a few items Chica retrieved for you, she wanted to give them to you earlier but didn't get the opportunity." She opens her hatch and pulls out a set of clothes, then the plush the chicken got for him.
Gregory just stares at the revealed items; the fact that they were brand new was enough to stun him to silence. How long has it been since he even touched something that was in mint condition? He couldn't tell you, and frankly, he probably never has.
He grabbed the Roxy themed clothing first, the material felt very foreign in his hands, not at all like his current attire, which had all kinds of rips and stains. He carefully set the clothing aside then took the plush. It was so much softer than he could've ever imagined, it was the pillow he always wanted but could never have. He clutches it to his chest, the fluff already promising many nights of comfort.
"You like it?" She puts her arm around the boy. He only nods. "I'm glad to see that, now you can take me everywhere you go!" Roxanne playfully said. He doesn't acknowledge her, he couldn't make any sound without it becoming a whimper. A few involuntary tears roll down his face, dropping onto the plush. Her ears and smile droop at his rather pathetic state. "Are you alright?"
"I-I'm fine, I'm fine. Just a bit emotional right now."
At first, she wanted to protest, but she stopped herself just before she could make a sound. Of course he would have a stronger reaction than normal for a kid his age. His circumstances are so far removed from what she would typically deal with.
'He never experienced such kindness before. It must be overwhelming.'
"Do you think these will fit you?"
"They seem so…but um, can I be alone for a minute so I can try them on?" He shyly asked, looking away towards a random wall. Roxanne was more than willing to allow him some privacy; this would also allow her to humor his earlier 'request'.
"Sure, while you do that, I'll go find some spare bandages for you." His heart drops to his stomach upon hearing that.
"Wait! Take me with you!" He clutches her hand to stop her, much to her surprise.
"I thought you wanted a moment to yourself."
"No! I mean yes, but not if it means being completely by myself! Please don't leave me alone!" Roxy has never been punched in the gut before, she couldn't even feel physical pain, but this must be what it felt like.
"I could get Chica to keep you company, I'm sure she'll love to get to know you more. She won't mind."
"I'm sure she won't but…but, she isn't you. Please, let me go with you." She didn't hesitate to lift him from his spot. He clung to her like the lifeline she is.
"Hey now, everything is fine. No need to be scared, I'm not going to disappear. Why don't you call Freddy over to be with you then?"
"Isn't he with the guard lady?"
"Hm, I forgot about her actually. But no matter, I'll bring you with me."
"Thank you. Without you or Freddy, I'm a sitting duck."
"Don't talk like that about yourself, you'll bounce back in no time. Sure we don't know when, but it'll happen at some point." She proceeds to go through her backroom with him, which contains an elevator. "Come on, we'll take a shortcut."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
'This sucks.'
Vanessa sits alone, Freddy having just retreated to his room to prepare for the coming day. She is packing her bag waiting for the long anticipated six o'clock. Funny how time goes by agonizingly slowly when you want something to be over, and it certainly doesn't help when you're using all of your willpower to stay awake rather than focus on your task.
'I can make it. Just thirty more minutes.'
It was a difficult night in terms of being prepared, the feeling of heavy eyes being all too familiar to the guard, but at least she has a nice bed to look forward to. Only thing that could make it even better is if she had the next night off.
'HA! Wishful thinking.'
She heavily sighs as she finishes her personal task, all that was left to do now was wait. She reflects on her experience tonight, she never would have thought it would have gone the way it did. Sure her interaction with the animatronics was a guaranteed endeavor, but what was unusual were the more paternal aspects with them…well one in particular. It is so indescribably strange to see one of the more volatile animatronics be the one to practically adopt a child. Freddy? Absolutely. Chica? Plausible. Roxanne? You're a comedian. Monty doesn't even deserve a mention on that front.
Vanessa has already decided to keep her mouth shut about all things Gregory related to her superiors, even if she was strong-armed into silence. The guard simply didn't know what to do about him outside of reporting him to the authorities, which would simply bite her in the long run. She can't exactly hide from a robot wolf who makes it abundantly clear that she will hunt her down if he is ever taken.
'And I can't really quit my job even if I wanted to.'
Her train of thought is derailed when her gaze glazed over the monitors, particularly the ones showing the utility tunnels. She could see that there was movement within, however the lighting doesn't really make it easy to identify whatever is lurking inside. Heavily sighing, she unclips her flashlight, getting ready to venture down to the dark depths of the restaurant.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"This place just gets creepier the deeper you go in it." Gregory offhandedly says out loud.
"Really? I never noticed."
"Yeah, I can't see anything down here outside of the haunting lights that are weirdly spread out."
"Hm, I guess I should have brought your flashlight…but it's too late for that now, we're almost there." Sure enough, turning the corner, there stood the first aid station. Although there didn't seem to be enough bandages in stock at a glance. Roxanne places Gregory on the nearby seat.
Even if he doesn't need them right now, she sifts through what remains anyway, which proves fruitless. She lets out a frustrated sigh.
'Hopefully someone restocks soon, there is nowhere near enough wrappings left for any situation.'
"There is nothing left here I'm afraid, we're going to have to wait for someone to replenish the supplies." 'Which could take a while given how neglectful these people can be sometimes.'
"It's okay, if you can't find anything, I can wait."
"Gregory…I want you to be straight–"
She is interrupted by the sound of footsteps. They weren't heavy nor metallic, which could only mean one thing. A human is down here with them, and that means it is either Vanessa or the intruder she suspects is still around.
"Um, hello? Roxy? You just stopped talking all the sudden."
"Someone is here."
He tenses up, all other questions being completely thrown out the window. Not long later he starts to hear them too, which further damages any confidence he had left.
Roxanne however didn't feel that way, if anything it was the opposite. She just stands there with her arms crossed waiting for whoever was approaching to show their mug.
Turning the corner is none other than Vanessa herself, in all her exhausted glory. The guard in question froze in place, not expecting to run into the duo either. The guard speaks up first.
"Well this is…something." Roxannes glare melted what little bravado she had.
"You alone?"
"Well, um…yeah. Freddy said he needed to prepare for the day, I thought you would be doing the same."
"Hmph. What are you doing down here anyway?"
"I saw movement in the cameras down here, so I came to check for anyone. And since it's my job, here I am." The wolf scoffs at her as she picks up a relieved Gregory. The guard is curious by this consistent action, why didn't she let him walk on his own?
"Stick by me." Vanessa obliges out of intimidation.
"Do you have to carry him everywhere?" The only response she gets is a growl, to which she raises her hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. Touchy subject."
Rather than go back the way she came, Roxanne opted to take the long way; she didn't have any patience left to wait for an elevator. She made sure the guard kept in pace with her, not allowing her to sneak away under any circumstance. Upon reaching her space, Roxy places the child next to the change of clothes.
"I need to have a word with little miss security guard for a moment."
"...Okay, I'll just see if these fit in the meantime." With that she exits.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"So…how long do you plan on your nightly visits?" Roxanne firmly inquires.
"This isn't my decision, okay. I have no control of whether or not I have a sleepover here. For all I know they could just make this my new position for indefinitely."
"Hm, and if it does, what do you plan to do then?"
"What do you mean–it is in the job title!" Vanessa couldn't help but give a condescending smile. However, that quickly goes away under the wolf's hardened gaze.
"Very funny."
"Oh lighten up, I'm nowhere near as bad as you're probably thinking."
"Perhaps not. But my sense of humor isn't the issue here." The guard wilts.
"I get that you don't trust me with keeping Gregory a secret, but I already said to you that I won't report him to anyone."
"And why did you do it so suddenly then? Maybe you said so to draw attention away from yourself."
"I know what it feels like, wanting to take your chances with the streets rather then you're 'home'. Only difference is that he had the moxie to take that extra step, whereas I did not. His risk actually managed to pay off. Who would I be if I took all that away?" Roxanne stares wide eyed, not expecting such an answer to come from her. She is snapped out of her stupor when Vanessa's watch starts beeping. "I need to clock out soon. Before I go though I kind of still want to know." She takes a deep breath before repeating her question from earlier. "Why do you carry him everywhere?"
"...He can't walk." Vanessa can't say she is that surprised, it was and still is a nasty accident.
'Interesting.'
"Hm, that sucks, hopefully he gets better soon. I'll see you all later Roxy, hopefully you won't try to bite my head off next time." With that she heads off to officially end her night.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
AN: For those who have been asking where the Daycare Attendant was, I didn't know how to put him in by the time I realized I forgot about him. I'll figure something out though.