Silence.

Marionette awoke to the silence of the dark Pizzeria, which befuddled them slightly. Their circuits ached, searching their memory for when they fell asleep, only for noise to distract them from their internal search and draw their sight. The door to the front had swung open, and a Purple Man stumbled in.

Their wires tightened underneath their fabric skin, as thoughts, old and new, flew through their mind. Of Mike, of Freddy and his threat. Marionette shook their head and tried to focus, finding themself outside their box, closer to the Purple phantom that was messing with something. The feeling of rain across their porcelain face, of soaking fabric came over them while they stalked towards the intruder.

Freddy would see, if Marionette took out a threat, maybe he'd accept Mike, accept Marionette's judgment to be unimpaired. Everything could go back to being so simple.

Silently, their gangling arms weaved in front of them, snaking towards the unaware Purple Man, until it was too late. The man wrenched his hands to his neck, as Marionette's grip circled and proceeded to choke his throat. Strangled words flew from the man's mouth, garbled, muffled, unheard over the sound of static, of rain.

Despite the man's resistance, Marionette dominated the confrontation, beginning to drag him to the back. They had to get rid of him, and they knew exactly where to place him.

There was a yellow one in the back, and Marionette dutifully began to drag the thrashing man in that direction..

The Purple Man struggled, but with some level of ease, despite the years of rust, Marionette forced the springlock suit onto him, and with one final mighty heave, they slammed the final part of the suit into place. Taking a step back, Marionette relaxed in satisfaction as the Purple phantom squirmed inside the death trap, unwittingly quickening their doom.

They had done it, they stopped a Purple threat, protected the Pizzeria. Had saved them. Hadn't failed again.

With the sound of grinding metal, of clicking, clinking doom, the suit partially activated with a deafening clang, forcing a stifled scream from the Purple Man, and spraying the Marionette in a mist of blood. They didn't flinch, no, their smile broadened.

One by one, the springlocks activated, sending spasms through the suit, causing the man to gasp in pain, letting more blood fly, and some pool underneath the suit, dripping like crimson rivers off the table. It was a slow process, an agonizing process. One that Marionette had only seen incomplete before, so hastily prepared, so interrupted those were. But not this one.

As noise began to die down, only a handful of clicking springlocks remained wound, though slowly unwinding, the man, bleeding inside the suit slowly raised his hand. Marionette did not flinch, lean away or move at all, as the man gently caressed their cheek, smearing a streak of red across their face.

And finally, Marionette understood his words, burdened though they were, "I forgive you…"

Right as understanding struck Marionette, the springlocks in the mask activated with a horrendous crunch, making the man's body spasm and twitch, before finally falling limp.

While the man had fallen still, and silence reigned, aside from the dripping of blood, Marionette had begun to shake. The man's words, the man's voice played inside their head as the Puppet leaned forward and gently held the springlock suit's shoulders. Their entire body tensed, beginning to shake, while a storm of static flew through their mind, and they whispered in a heartbroken tone to the fresh made corpse, "Mike…?"

Without warning a scream tore from Marionette. Their hands flew to their mask as they stood straight up, knocking the lid off their box, sending it clattering to the floor. Their body flung to and fro, while static roared in their head, and their wires pulled taut, until their box tipped over, and with a resounding crack, the screaming Puppet joined their box's lid on the ground, writhing and twisting. Purple tears pouring from the black pits of their eyes.

The Prize Corner was filled with clatter, Puppet screams and the strangled tune of a weeping music box.

—

Mike flicked his flashlight from vent to hall and back again, an odd feeling having crept up on him as the night wore on. He supposed it had to have been the fact Marionette had yet to join him, not that he would begrudge them. They lacked their music box, and had routinely seemed tired, even if he were stupid enough to bumble past the other animatronics to the Prize Corner to wake them up, it would still be rude. They deserved their rest. Though, Mike had to stifle a chuckle, as he realized just how accustomed he'd become to having the Puppet by his side through the nights.

With a measured breath he inspected the nearby party rooms through the camera. Not to say things were difficult. Mangle was still friendly, giving a wave or a wink as they made their patrols. Keeping up appearances. But, still, he had kept a far more wary eye out for the original band of animatronics. After Freddy's apparent threats, Mike couldn't help but feel like he was sitting on a bomb with a digital clock.

Ah, well, he didn't need to worry about Mangle, Marionette or even Balloon Boy. So the night was almost relaxing all things considered.

Or it was until a loud noise crashed through the Pizzeria to Mike's guard desk. So loud it was, Mike flinched, almost sending his mask and flashlight flying. He quickly shook his head and tore through the cameras. He saw Toy Freddy and Bonnie on stage, and they also seemed startled, turning around in confusion. Frowning, Mike continued searching for the source of that awful sound. It almost sounded like screaming.

Finally, Mike landed on the Prize Corner camera, and discovered that's exactly what it was. The sight playing out on the monitor made Mike's entire body clench, as he tried to process what he saw. Marionette was on the Prize Corner floor, thrashing around, screaming on and on in the darkness.

A million and one thoughts ran through Mike's head, all focusing on his friend and their duress, what could have caused it.

It was but a single moment, one that lingered on for eternity as Mike turned his head to the dark hallway, the animatronics that laid between him and Marionette. To step away from his cameras, his mask, would be certain death. But it was only that one moment before he grabbed his flashlight and tore down the hall, caring not for Toy or Withered. Something was wrong with Marionette, and Mike would be damned before he stood by and did nothing while the friendly, caring Puppet suffered.

He dared not glance at anything around him, he hardly even breathed as he tore down the hall between table, chair, attraction and arcade cabinet, charging directly towards the Prize Corner, with the only noise breaking through the blood roaring in his ears, being that of Marionette's anguished, continuous screams.

Without even knowing where the Toys were, Mike threw himself into the Prize Corner, his heart clenching at the sight of Marionette in such a state. They rolled on the ground, clawing at their mask right in front of him, static and the distorted notes of their internal music box drowned beneath the screams. Without a moment to pause or any care or worry to his well being, Mike slid onto his knees and clutched the still screaming Puppet to his chest in a tight hug.

Marionette still thrashed within his grasp, their animatronic strength only failing to tear away from him due to their unfocused state. It still hurt like hell, but Mike didn't care, he tightened his grip on their body, but gently held their head, their shaking mask in his hand, "Mari! Mari, I'm here. It's fine! Everything's fine!" Mike said, trying to comfort them.

It took a moment or two, but something shifted in Marionette. Their thrashing was no longer random, their screams somehow altered, instead the Puppet seemed to push all their strength into burying themself into Mike's chest, as their screams tinged into sorrow as much as agony.

"Hey, hey, everything's alrigh-" Mike tried to say, before being cut off by the blubbering animatronic.

Marionette's arms wrapped tightly around Mike's chest, sobbing between their hurried, terrified words, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry…!" They repeated, again and again. A breathless mantra barely making it passed their tears.

Mike didn't understand, but he didn't need to. He simply cradled Marionette, gently hushing them, reassuring them. Understanding could come later.

Unbeknownst to Mike, or perhaps he simply didn't care, the rest of the Toys stood, watching the display from outside the Prize Corner. The core trio looked shocked, the sight of a night guard charging to the emotional protection of an animatronic rendered them stunned. Freddy scratched his head, Chica simply stared, while Bonnie's eyes twitched, as he pointed from Marionette to the guard and back again.

Beside them stood Mangle, who wore an expression of sympathy for the distressed Puppet, and yet a smile for the kindly guard who was there for them. "A-aw, that's emo-otionally devastating and adorable." Without further words, they began to shoo the shocked band back to their stage, "C-c-come on, let's give them some privacy."

Whether it had been their shock or surprise or something else entirely, the three merely complied without protest. They simply left the Prize Corner to the two souls on the floor, and the sound of the sobbing Marionette.

They didn't know how long they stayed like that, Mike kneeling on the floor, caressing Marionette's head, and gently stroking their back. Slowly, Marionette's anguished sobs began to die down, but Mike knew their emotional state hadn't exactly gotten better, they had just gotten quieter about it.

Once things had calmed down, and Mike could hear himself think, he began to feel a bit out in the open. Picking himself off the floor, and holding Marionette tight, he began the march back to his office. As he walked, he only glanced once towards the Toys, who stood on their stage, eyes glued to the guard. Mangle meanwhile had moved ahead, seemingly escorting him from a distance, which Mike appreciated.

It was almost a blur, and it forced Mike to focus until he sat in his chair, Marionette on his lap, and held tightly in his arms. Mike gave them a few more minutes, listening to their occasional hiccup and wavering static, "You okay?" He asked, softly.

There was a moment of silence before they replied, "No…"

"Wanna talk about it? I'm all ears."

Another stint of silence slinked between them, but Marionette eventually answered, "I-I had a nightmare. Dreamed I woke up in my box, a-and saw… a Purple Man. All threats are Purple. Always. I t-thought about you, Freddy's words. I dragged the Purple Man to the back, to a death trap of an old… half robot half performer suit. I watched him die, reveled in it. Until he was you!"

They practically shouted into Mike's chest, gripping his shirt with their hands as another sob wrenched through them. Mike would admit, kind of a terrifying thing to imagine, but he shoved that all to the side, and focused on his friend, "Hey, hey it's alright. I'm still here, that didn't happen."

"But it could have! You were Purple! But then you weren't! For so long we hunted you, and you're just-just a good guy! Innocent! I could have killed you!" They languished, almost seeming to hyperventilate in their own, animatronic way, "I've killed people, Mike! What if none of them deserved it?! What if they were all like you?! What if you look Purple again?! Or an actual threat comes in and I hesitate?!" Their voice grew softer, as they pressed their mask into Mike's shoulder, "I'm scared, Mike. Scared for you, others. Scared of me, of Freddy and the old band. I-I just wanna protect this place… the kids… you."

That-that was a lot to take in, Mike thought. He had sorta pushed the lingering knowledge of the animatronics injuring and probably killing people to the back of his mind, but that info was bashing at the gates of his mind. He looked down, at the shaking Puppet in his grasp, it was almost hard to believe, connecting the friendly Marionette with the same Puppet that had attacked him only weeks prior, the Puppet that had taken other peoples' lives. The Puppet that was, right then, wracked with grief and fear.

He gently leaned away, speaking softly, "Hey, hey look at me." Slowly, Marionette acquiesced, meeting Mike's gaze, their mask twisted into a look of torment, the purple lines on their mask now rivers of purple, flowing unbidden, "I may not know anything about this purple guy, or what's happened to you and the others, but know, there isn't a moment where I'm afraid of you anymore. I don't know why I looked purple to you before, I don't know why I don't now, but I trust you Marionette, right now I can't imagine you ever willingly hurting me. I can't speak for past guards, and what may have happened in the past, but I've come to care for this Pizzeria, to care about you, and I'm not going anywhere. You've already changed my nights from utter horror, to something I look forward to. I have your back, alright?"

His words seemed to do the trick, as Marionette's mask quirked into a tearful smile before they buried it into Mike's neck with a happy sob this time. "Thank you… thank you…" They murmured quietly, their voice less conflicted, less in pain.

Mike simply smiled, and turned his focus to the cameras and torch once more, all the while comfortingly brushing Marionette's back. He wasn't sure if Marionette could handle seeing one of the old band after everything, and while he didn't know how the old band would react to Marionette huddled up on him with the mask on, he would do his damndest to give Marionette a relaxing remainder to the night.

Even as Mike pondered how weird his life had come to be, he couldn't help but feel some sort of accomplishment, of joy, as Marionette's sobs, static and music box quieted down into a calm. Without looking down, not even a glance, when Marionette squeezed Mike a little within their hug around his body, he reciprocated, gently strengthening his hold around their own lean body, in silent solidarity.

Whether it be by luck, or Mangle running interference, Mike was quite glad when the rest of the night was one of calm and peace, for both himself and the Puppet who hid themself in his grasp.