Author's Note:
Hey everyone! Since it was my birthday today, we decided to post an extra chapter. Hope you enjoy! It's a long one...
Chapter 161
Empathy
Hedy huffed and another clip didn't immediately play.
"Hedy?"
She looked at Ginny in mild annoyance, "What?"
Ginny swallowed. "What happened to my mom?"
Shock overtook the annoyance but Hedy only shook her head.
Felix added. "What about my mom?" He hadn't wondered before. But now…
All the kids suddenly looked curious.
Jeremy swallowed and shared a panicked look with Hedy.
"I..." Hedy tried.
Ruby looked away, not making a comment. Honestly she was still shaken from seeing her parents but she wouldn't admit it.
Hedy hesitated. "They all miss you, but they're doing pretty well."
It was quiet for a moment before Felix abruptly got up and stood in front of Hedy.
"Why are you lying?!" he snapped at her, "What happened?"
Hedy flinched, looking pained.
"Felix..." Jeremy tried.
"You shut the fuck up! Where's my mom, Hedy?" he demanded. His head whipped around at the sound of Michael trying to stifle a laugh and smile.
Felix and the others glared at the man.
Ruby stood up and stalked towards Michael.
"You, shut up. Unless you want to end up in the vacuum cleaner again. I filled it halfway with salt this time." She growled. Then she turned to the kids. "And you, be grateful she's willing to lie to you. Sometimes a lie hurts less than the truth."
Her voice was flat and almost dead sounding, her expression giving away nothing regarding her feelings.
"You should consider whether you can handle the truth before you ask for it."
That seemed to annoy some of them more and Hedy closed her eyes as Felix growled.
He stared at Michael, "You know don't you? Where are our parents?!"
Michael smirked at the small victory, though he did glance at Ruby with more than a bit of terror. It would be worth it… Probably.
They asked for it.
"All either dead or divorced," he said with a smile at the little boy. "Your mom's worm food. The Manilos separated but I hear your pops killed your mom then himself." he looked at Frederick.
"That's a lie," Jeremy snapped.
Michael shrugged.
Frederick looked like he'd been slapped but Michael kept going.
"Then of course I already mentioned how Ginny's mum hates Wiggy's guts. No need to lie about that."
Hedy looked away.
"The most pathetic was Mrs. Lucah though," he said with a thoughtful look. He spoke quickly, wanting to get as much out before Ruby stopped him.
Benji looked terrified and moved to cover his ears but couldn't bring himself to. He stared at Michael in horrified curiosity.
"They found her rotting by the docks after she had a miscarriage."
Benji let out a weak cry and Felix tried to lunge at Michael with a shout of rage but Ginny grabbed him before he could hit the salt barrier.
"Bitch left a letter saying how she wanted to be with her babies." Michael said proudly. "Bet that was a bit of a surprise when you weren't up there waiting for her."
Jeremy stood up and abruptly walked out, much to Michael's very misplaced amusement.
Ruby stood with a carefully blank expression.
"You're trapped in there." She pointed out.
Michael just glared back at her.
"Jeremy is a police officer."
He looked a little confused now. She was just pointing out the obvious here.
"He's really protective." She didn't point out that the cop's protectiveness didn't always just extend to Hedy. She thought it was obvious.
By the guard office, the building helpfully dropped the shotgun he was looking for into Jeremy's arms.
Along with a box of salt coated ball bearings that he knew Ruby had added on top of his own things.
Jeremy walked back into the room, loading two shells into the chamber, without even looking at Michael. He made a note to make the next ones out of the ball bearings.
"Is that a shotgun?!" Toby asked, instinct telling him that thing isn't allowed 1000 feet anywhere near a building with children.
"Everyone cover your ears," Jeremy ordered while Michael sneered at him and laughed.
"Ha! You're dumber than I thought. What do you think a gun's going to do to me?"
Hedy was already covering her ears.
Jeremy silently aimed at Michael point blank and fired.
Michael slammed into the salt barrier and rebounded into the barrier in front of him. The salt hit with such a force that it left bruises and cuts wherever it hit.
And burned.
He shouted in pain, sure that his ribs were bruised or cracked from the blow and hitting the barrier.
"Nice shot." Ruby lowered her hands from her ears, turning to calm the bots.
The bots were really not expecting how loud it was and Spring was shaking in fright now while Toby whined and rubbed his ears, slow to listen to Jeremy.
Freddy noticed a bit of damage to the floor.
The kids grimaced at the ringing in their ears, Felix in particular as he hadn't listened to Jeremy at all. Surprise, surprise.
Michael was holding his chest and face in pain, bringing his hand away as if he expected to see blood. He stared at Jeremy, wide-eyed.
Jeremy cocked the gun again and levelled a gare at Michael.
"Wait don't..."
"Be very careful what you say next," Jeremy said.
"I'm sorry!"
"Nope. Should have been quiet." He fired again and Michael screamed as he was slammed around again.
He laid on the ground gasping and groaning in the fetal position, invisibly bleeding out as Jeremy went and sat back down.
He handed Ruby the shotgun as he went.
Jeremy wasn't interested in torturing Michael like Ruby was. He was swift and direct with his justice while Hedy and Ruby would have drawn it out.
Ruby hadn't moved her gaze from the ghost and held the gun a little too comfortably.
The bots knew she'd been set off by the mocking tone Michael used when telling Benji that his mom was dead.
She safely reloaded the shotgun with new shells like Jeremy had shown her and pointed it calmly at Michael.
"Say another word and regret it." She spoke softly. "And I'll pass the gun over to Hedy when I'm done."
Michael swallowed, shaking, the look in her eyes sending a shiver down his spine. It was cold, furious and deadly. The same look she'd had in her eyes when she took him down after he attacked Hedy.
The teen gave that cruel smile that the others rarely saw.
"Oh, and remember. Did daddy ever go looking for you?" she asked, tone cold as ice. "He still visits Timmy's and Elizabeth's graves. Even Charlotte's. But he never went looking for you did he?"
The bots all glanced sharply at Ruby, wondering how she knew that.
Hedy stared at Ruby for a moment before speaking. "It's not all bad," Hedy told the kids in a neutral tone. "Cheryl, your parents divorced, but they got back together. I see them at the gravesite every year and they're doing really well. Ricky, you have a little brother now. He's ten. They never come in here though. Ginny, I talk to your dad. He calls me every year to see how I'm doing."
After making sure that Michael was behaving again (And keeping the shotgun trained on him) Ruby turned to run an eye over the shocked and angry children. Her gaze lingered for a moment on Benji and Hedy was sure she saw her eyes soften slightly.
"But Mom..." Ginny muttered.
Hedy looked pained. "She...she never speaks to me. I tried calling her...last week actually..."
The bots looked away from the pained expressions on the kids' faces but Ruby didn't.
"Some people don't handle grief well." Her voice was soft, gentle and far too wise for a teenager.
Benji looked at Hedy, begging, "He's lying isn't he?"
Hedy tried to say yes but the crack in her voice gave it away and she looked away.
Benji looked like he died all over again but he didn't want to cry in front of Michael or Ruby or Bonnie or Jeremy...or anyone really.
"My mommy killed herself because of me?" he whimpered, tears pooling in his eyes.
Ginny took his hand. "It's okay Benji. We just got to make sure they pay for that too."
Benji yanked his hand out of hers and folded in on himself, staring at the floor as Ginny looked confused and immediately distressed that she hadn't helped.
Of all the deaths he was responsible for, that was one he never wanted.
Ruby flinched. She knew exactly how he was feeling right now.
"Not because of you." She murmured. "Because Michael took you from her. Because she lost your younger sibling before they were born. Because grief can be a terrible, crushing thing."
"S-stop pretending to care!" Benji shouted, not necessarily at her. "You're the night guard! You're not supposed to care!" It was the first time the bots had heard pain instead of anger from him when he said something like that.
Even the other kids seemed a bit lost, though Felix was staring at the floor, shaking a little.
Benji was so angry at himself. He wanted to cry so badly and he was just about to completely lose it, but Michael was right there and he desperately needed to hold onto as much pride as he could and he currently didn't have the concentration to just disappear somewhere else. If Felix wasn't going to cry, neither would he.
"Benji..." Hedy whispered.
"You're not supposed to care either!" He screamed and a light shattered. "You should have hated us too! Even before I took Bonnie again! Now you really do hate us so you can stop pretending!"
The other kids looked shocked at his words.
Hedy stared at him with a complicated expression.
This certainly wasn't remorse, but it wasn't ambivalence, avoidance, or outright denial of what he did either.
Ruby sighed and stood up, dumping the shotgun on Hedy. She reached out and snatched Benji by the back of his shirt and started dragging him out.
"Be back in a moment. Stay here." She glared at the other ghost kids before disappearing out the door.
She pulled the struggling kid into an empty room.
"You can hate me all you want. But it won't change the fact that I know how you feel." She kept a good hold on him as she sat down on the table.
That was the last straw that broke him. Benji started wailing out his tears. He was almost positive they could hear him in the main room. Benji weakly tried to hit her arms and pry her fingers off his shirt, but despite being able to touch the girls, it was like interacting with things in a dream–weak and fuzzy. He had barely any strength against anything physical.
"No you don't!" he sobbed, though he wasn't an idiot or ignorant to Ruby's life. He knew that wasn't true, but it hurt to admit she could understand anything about him. He hated her!
She didn't look offended, or angry. She didn't try and hug him either. She just sat there, keeping a hold on him and letting him hit her.
"It hurts. It feels like someone ripped your heart out and stomped on it. It's not fair, it sucks. And it doesn't get better for a long long time. But eventually it fades enough that you can breathe again. Eventually you can think about them without it hurting as much." Her voice was calm and soothing, a tone she'd never used with them before.
"I already had too long," he cried. "She died and I didn't even know!" he screamed, "She wanted to be with me! She wanted to be with me and I wasn't there for her! She's up there and I'm here! I don't want to be here! I hate it here! It's cold and hot at the same time. I can never sleep!" He sobbed, sounding so defeated. "I'm so tired all the time. I just want to go to sleep! I wanted to wait for her! But she died and I was stuck here." The floodgates opened and he just rattled out the pain of being a ghost, knowing the others would hate him for it. They all felt the same way. Cheryl sat up some nights just crying because she wanted to sleep so badly.
"Did Timmy tell you what it's like?! I'm always hungry. I'm always thirsty. I'm always tired and I hate it! I just wanted her to be okay without me." His blows were even weaker now and he was using one hand to uselessly attempt hiding his tears.
His cries teetered off into a desperate broken whine. "If...if I-I wasn't there for her...I just wanted her to be okay..."
Unexpectedly Ruby pulled him into a hug. Somehow, even though it didn't make sense, it was warm.
"You'll see her again one day." Her voice was a whisper now. "She's waiting for you patiently and she'll wait as long as she needs to." She ran her fingers through his hair. It was similar to when Hedy did it but at the same time different. Hedy was a friend. Or she used to be. He didn't know anymore. While he hated Ruby, the gesture suddenly reminded him of his mom.
"Hate me all you want Benji." How could she still speak so gently to him when he'd hurt her friends and tried so hard to kill her? "It's alright. But don't blame yourself for this. It's not your fault. And it's not your fault that you didn't know. Let yourself grieve. You need to let yourself cry. Don't hold it in, sweetie." She rubbed his back softly. "This won't last forever. You'll move on one day and then you'll never be cold or hungry again. You'll be happy."
Benji just cried. He wanted to believe it, but stubbornly not from Ruby. And it had already been so many years he was almost giving up on the idea that they'd ever find peace.
Michael was dead but that didn't do anything. Scott was dead but that didn't do anything. A ton of night guards were dead because of him and that didn't do anything.
So he just cried, hiccupping at the mix of hopelessness and grief because Ruby told him he could and had said that it would eventually be okay, even if he didn't really believe it. The kids couldn't even tell each other that anymore.
He sobbed whatever was left of his heart out.
Ruby was humming while she rocked him gently. He could see why the children all liked her so much. Why Timmy liked her.
Despite everything, he still suddenly felt safer in her arms.
It was ridiculous and so stupid but true.
"You'll never be alone, sweetheart." The words were murmured so softly he almost thought he imagined it. "That I can promise."
Regardless of whether the children hated her or not, she could never leave them to suffer alone.
"Why would you p-promise that..." he whimpered, still sobbing though he managed to take a shuddering breath to force out the shaky words. "I'm a murderer. I'm evil. I'm a monster."
"Bad choices don't make you evil. Michael is evil. You're a brat. But that's fine. I live with a lot of brats." She paused. "I was one hell of a brat when I lost my parents. I got a lot of chances before I finally changed. Why shouldn't you?"
"Did you kill people?!" he snapped weakly. "I killed people! A lot of people. I hurt them for a long time and I wanted to!" he yelled. "I made Bonnie kill people, even when he cried about it and begged me to stop!" He yelled that at her even though his tears welled up again.
Why was she acting like she forgot why she was supposed to hate him?!
"I made us kill mommies and daddies because I wanted to. And I still want to!" There wasn't as much conviction behind his voice as there would have been not that long ago, but it was still there, weakened and mixed with his grief. "What chances?!"
"I shoved a social worker into a busy road once." Ruby murmured softly. "I was just so...angry. Angry with everyone, with the world, with myself. I wanted to hurt people. And I liked to do it." She lowered her gaze to look Benji in the eyes. "I was a lot closer to becoming like Michael than like you. I still got the chance to turn that around."
"How..." Benji hiccupped in a pained whisper, trying to look away. He wasn't sure if Ruby just admitted to killing someone. Or trying to anyway. He didn't think so. They weren't the same. He still thought it was too late for him.
"Some people who loved me were too stubborn to give up. They finally got through to me." She ran her fingers soothingly through his messy not-quite-there hair again. "Like you've got Hedy. Sure she gets mad at you sometimes. And she's super mad now. But when it comes down to it, she still loves you guys. Even if she says she doesn't."
Benji wanted to cry again. He was quiet for a long moment. "I didn't think I'd ever see her again. I really hurt her." He sniffled. "I know I'm still kind of a kid. And I'm not supposed to really know this stuff, but I think I really loved her." He asked himself why he was telling the night guard this, not for the first time.
"I'm sorry." She sounded genuine. "I can see she cares about you. You're definitely better than Felix." She pulled a face. Those two would probably never get along. "Probably why you acted so cruel during that week I was gone. You were pushing her away. Subconsciously at least."
Benji frowned. "Felix is mean, but he's brave," he insisted."Hedy doesn't remember but...I think... Felix distracted...he fought him...Michael. So she could get the vent open." He looked ill at the sharp but complicated memories, and trembled a little.
He shut his eyes. "I don't want to watch the videos anymore." He whispered in pain. "I don't want Hedy to watch them." He put his hand on his chest and gripped his shirt over his heart. "They're hurting her...so bad... but she wants to watch to get her memories back." He looked a bit panicked. "She had the camera with her all the time. If it shows us dying..." Benji paled and looked like he wanted to throw up as he trembled.
Ruby could feel his entire little body tense up in terror and trauma.
"That's one video I won't allow to be shown." Ruby's voice was hard when she said that, glancing up at the ceiling in warning. It would hurt Hedy, the children, Spring and let Michael gloat. She refused to allow that. There wasn't a reason for them to see that.
She knew Hedy already had enough nightmares. Mike had privately asked her for advice about how to help Hedy with them after more than a few times losing sleep in his worry as she tossed and turned. He wasn't willing to ask Jeremy given the man's hyper paranoids reactions to Hedy dating, so he wondered if Ruby would know.
"Jeremy wouldn't either. And Hedy wouldn't want to hurt you guys like that."
Benji nodded, sniffling. "M-michael cut...Felix's throat, because h-he was being loud and swearing at him." He put his hands to his neck.
Ruby wondered if she was imagining the smallest fraction of a second that looked like blood on Benji's hand. "And Cheryl's because she was screaming. He stabbed me." A shaking hand moved down to his chest over his heart. "It was awful. I was so scared." He swallowed. "I don't want anyone to see that even if I hate them. I don't want to see it again."
The building rumbled softly, soothingly assuring him he wouldn't.
"See?" Ruby cooed, sure that the other kids might faint if they saw this. "The building cares about you too. I think it's been trying to help you move on from the beginning." She absently patted the wall they leaned against.
Benji shook his head a bit, looking at the ceiling hesitantly. There was still pain in his eyes, and it hurt just thinking of his mom, but he could lessen the tears without wanting to scream. The lights settled. It had been a long time since they blew lights out.
Ruby finally let him go now that he was calmer, releasing him from the hug.
"Don't keep it all in. That's the worst thing you can do," she warned him.
She stood up, sure he was going to remember that he hated her any moment now.
Benji looked at her. There was still a sliver of suspicion in his eyes, but not hate. Not at the moment. He just looked exhausted. "That's what Hedy told you when you came back."
The teen shrugged.
"What can I say? I'm a hypocrite." She smirked.
Back in the main room, Hedy was quietly paying attention to the pain that was coming off Benji in waves, annoyed with how the other kids didn't seem to be noticing it. She noticed how it lessened until it was a sharp but manageable ache.
Michael was looking at her, wondering if he could get away with saying something before Ruby came back. He eyed the shotgun and ignored Jeremy staring at him.
None of the bots said anything. It was an awkward silence.
"What did I say?" Ginny spoke up, still upset.
Hedy glanced at her and snapped. "Benji wasn't thinking about revenge. He just wanted to grieve and you weren't letting him."
Felix scowled at the floor. "How did my mom die, Hedy?" he asked, not giving Ginny a chance to respond.
"She just got sick. She had pneumonia and had trouble fighting it off," Hedy said softly. She was livid, yes, but she didn't want to be cruel with how she broke news like that.
Felix didn't respond except to stare at the ground and clench his fist. He was more stubborn than Benji. He wasn't going to cry. They could tell he wanted to. But shoving the pain under anger hurt far less. Thinking about it just made him angrier. How was this fair? His mom died and he wasn't there for her because of Michael. Because of stupid Jeremy.
Finally Ruby returned with a subdued Benji. She sat down between Foxy and Bonnie like normal and glared at Michael, daring him to say something.
He was still feeling the pain from earlier so he didn't.
Benji came next to Hedy and looked at her.
Silently, Hedy passed the gun back to Ruby and hesitantly held out her arms, although she maintained a tense blank expression.
Benji hesitated. He then climbed into her chair and sat with her, letting her wrap her arms around him as he sunk into her chest and the soft sweater she happened to be wearing, with an expressionless stare at the floor.
The others were genuinely shocked Hedy even let him touch her.
It was a strange moment. Benji could sense Hedy was still furious with him and the others, the feeling far sharper with direct contact. But Hedy was actively fighting it down for a moment, dulling it with the thinnest line of sympathy. She understood how much pain he was in. Even so, she couldn't completely fight off the tension in her body as she hugged him. She didn't even know what she was doing or why. It was rare enough that she could concentrate enough to even touch the kids in the first place. This was Benji's doing, she decided. He was emotional just enough to bridge that connection.
He just needed to be held.
She could put up with it for a moment.
Ruby kept the gun pointed straight at Michael.
All the bots stayed quiet, watching the upset ghost.
Frederick opened his mouth to ask what Ruby did to the other boy, thinking Benji's behavior strange.
Ginny looked jealous...
"Morning Spring!"
They looked up at the sound of younger Hedy's voice.
"Hi, Hedy," Spring said. "How did the slime work out?"
"Good. We got Uncle Scott too. Thanks for helping me make it!"
"What did Puppet think?" Spring smirked. "He showed me how to make it."
Puppet groaned while Ruby's eyes widened.
"Is the Clown a prankster too?!" She demanded in a whisper yell.
"We've already mentioned how he dyed my suit green," Goldy muttered.
"That was an accident," Puppet insisted with a threatening hiss, again.
Ruby pulled a face.
"I don't know how to react to this," She muttered.
"Don't," Puppet said.
Hedy chuckled.
"I don't know. He didn't say anything," Hedy said.
"Aw," Spring said a bit sadly despite his smile. "Hey what's wrong?"
Spring reached out and picked up Hedy, camera and all, and held her in his lap.
Hedy didn't answer. She just hugged Spring.
"Hey, sweetheart. What's wrong? You know you can tell old Spring anything."
"...I think Daddy hates me," Hedy admitted.
Spring looked shocked. "Why would you say that?" he managed to ask gently, though it took a moment to wrestle the shock down.
"I made a mess and almost got Ruby hurt."
"Ruby?"
"I dropped her."
"But she's okay?"
Hedy nodded.
"Then what's the problem? You always clean up your messes."
"Daddy yelled at me for it. It was weird. He used to think I was funny..."
"Oh, Wiggy, sweetheart. That doesn't mean he hates you," Spring said. "I know for a fact he loves you very much."
"How do you know?"
"I remember when you were born. He came into work and wouldn't shut up about you and how pretty you were. He was so happy."
"You knew me when I was born?"
"Yep."
Hedy frowned at that. They wondered if she was confused over why she only recently met Spring.
"Why was he happy? Mommy died when she had me. He had to be sad." Hedy looked down. "I killed her. Maybe that's why he doesn't like me."
Benji stiffened in Hedy's arms and glanced at her, but she just cracked him a forced smile that didn't really meet her eyes.
Ruby flicked a glance at Hedy before focusing back on the screen.
"No! No no no. That's not it at all," Spring looked thrown off that a little girl would say that or understand something like that. "He was very sad but very happy at the same time."
Ruby watched quietly while the bots glanced over at Hedy.
Spring looked upset and stared at Hedy intently.
None of them seemed happy with what she said.
Jeremy didn't look too happy either.
"I'm fine," she said with a small huff. "I know it wasn't my fault. That would be ridiculous."
Ruby glanced briefly at Hedy again before facing the screen. She didn't say anything. While it was an unpleasant thought, Hedy had moved past it. They didn't need to convince her.
Hedy didn't look convinced. "At the same time?"
"At the same time," Spring assured. "It's a thing."
"Well, he could have changed his mind," Hedy muttered.
"I don't think so. People change, but he wouldn't change how much he loves you."
Hedy was quiet for a long moment. "You won't change will you?"
"Whaddya mean?"
"You'll still love me, right? No matter what? You'll stay my friend. You won't forget me?"
"You make it sound like I'm going somewhere. Of course not. You just don't forget me either," he sounded amused as he smiled reassuringly at her.
"Promise?"
Spring and Hedy both stiffened in pain at the irony and Spring let out a hurt whine through his teeth while Hedy shut her eyes.
Ruby winced along with the other bots.
Goldy hugged Spring automatically.
"You okay?" she whispered.
Spring forced a shrug. "Yeah... H-Hedy?" He sounded like he was about to cry
"Ugh," she muttered, still with her eyes closed. "The irony fricking hurts." She cracked an eye open and managed a sarcastic half smirk. "Should have made it a deal."
That got a giggle from most of the bots. They were still sad to see that this friendship was literally forgotten.
Spring forced a weak smile. "Would that have worked?'
"Oh I have no clue," Hedy snorted. "Don't even know if it could affect that." The building didn't give an indication either.
"Promise," Spring laughed.
In the present, Spring wanted to throw something at the past him for saying something so painful like an idiot. He wouldn't hit him too hard. Just a little bop. Maybe a smack to the side of his head casing.
Hedy seemed pleased with that answer. "You should come out. I want you to meet my other friends."
"Aw, sorry kiddo. I can't."
"Why not?"
"It's complicated."
"If it's because the grown-ups say so, you should just ignore them." She said it with a decisive nod.
"It's not just that, Wiggy. There's not enough room in this building for more than one or two acts. I don't really want to distract from the Toys."
"Then they should build more than one stage! Then Daddy could stop hurting the others."
"They should, shouldn't they?" Suddenly he stiffened as he realized what else she said. "What did you say?!"
Hedy frowned. "I found Freddy and the others. They didn't move away like everyone told me." She seemed angry suddenly. "If Daddy loves me, why would he hurt my friends like that, huh?"
"Hedy..." Spring said softly, upset she kept going back to this, even more upset that she knew what had happened with the Originals. "Don't think of it like that..." he begged, distressed.
Hedy just scowled at the opposite wall with a hurt expression.
"Come on. It isn't something you need to be worried about. Everything will work out..."
Hedy just crossed her arms.
Spring sighed. "It will. Honest. Hey! Worry about it later okay? You deserve to have fun this weekend." He gently ruffled her hair and tapped her nose.
Hedy winced a little, "I forgot to get Cheryl a present. Jeremy didn't have time to take me to the store..."
Ruby was muttering about the 'stupid management' under her breath along with what she'd like to do to them.
She still had issues with what they'd done in the past even if they were behaving better now. Under threat of course.
"That's alright. She sounds sweet. I'm sure she'll just be happy you came."
"Yeah but I'm always here. It's nothing special that I go to her party."
"Sure it is," Spring paused. "Hey Wiggy, why are you recording this?"
"Cuz I wanna," Hedy said stubbornly as if that explained everything.
The Originals snickered at that.
"Sounds like something Ruby would say," Bonnie pointed out innocently.
Hedy muttered something and lightly glared at him.
Spring chuckled. "Alright. You have fun, 'kay?"
"I will," Hedy promised. "I'll visit you later, okay? So you aren't lonely."
"Oh Wiggy, you visit me every day and I talk to the others at night. I'm not lonely," Spring assured her with a light scold
"Can I stay here with you at night?" Hedy asked, abruptly changing the subject.
Spring blinked. "Heh. Nope. You need to go home with your dad and sleep in your bed."
"Well, maybe home is boring. Maybe Daddy and Jeremy are too busy. Maybe I can just hide here and nobody will find me. I can sleep in the vents and you can adopt me."
Spring stared at her, particularly at the "adopt" part. "W-well, uh...that's not a great idea, Wiggy. Your dad would be very worried. Now don't give me that look. I know you're mad at him right now but it's the truth."
"Awww," Ruby cooed. "Hedy had a robot family before me!"
She regularly called Foxy and Bonnie her robot brothers now.
"Goodness, what else have I beat you at...?" Hedy muttered.
"Or rather, influenced me to do?" Ruby grinned at her. "What else can we blame you for?"
Hedy groaned and covered her face with her hand.
"What would a full out prank war between you two be like?" Mike asked curiously, smiling at his girlfriend.
"We wouldn't survive," Jeremy deadpanned, glaring at Mike as Toby suddenly looked like the apocalypse had come.
"Okay," Hedy said a bit snappishly. "That's an exaggeration."
"Oh no it isn't!" Jeremy retorted. "Sure it'd start out small, but then you'd get into it and pretty soon the place gets accidentally burnt down because Ruby freaks out about you putting tarantulas in her bag!"
That was oddly specific.
The building rumbled, almost worriedly.
"Come on, you're scaring it," Hedy groaned.
"You're scaring me," Ruby muttered, half behind Foxy and staring at Hedy suspiciously.
Hedy glared at Ruby in betrayal then stilled when everyone, even the kids, suddenly looked between Ruby and mostly her in a mix of concern and terror. She wasn't sure if they were mocking her or not.
Mangle shuddered. "Somehow...somehow Ruby just saying someone else scares her is terrifying. Hedy makes it a million times worse."
"Is it make fun of Hedy day?" Hedy grumbled.
"Who would dare?" Mangle shot back with a cheeky smirk.
Hedy just rubbed her eyes and groaned as Ruby continued to squint at her suspiciously.
The video kept her from responding by deciding to play.
It was dark at first until they noticed a flash of movement. Pretty soon they were looking at little Ruby upside down as she played with the camera in an empty room.
It still had that crack.
She was alone apparently, but it seemed like someone had just been there. Crayons and paper were scattered around, along with a bunch of balls stolen from the ball pit.
Plushies surrounded her.
The little girl made noises as she carefully poked and prodded Hedy's camera, yet Hedy was nowhere to be seen.
"Ruby?" they heard Puppet's voice break the childish mumbling.
Puppet stiffened at the sound of his own voice while Ruby raised an eyebrow. More interaction she didn't remember between them huh?
"Mari Mari Mari Mari..." Ruby squealed as she begged to be picked up, arms outstretched.
Puppet didn't even hesitate. "Alright, little one. What are you doing in here by yourself? Where is Hedwig?"
"Bath-oom," Ruby said around the thumb she stuck in her mouth. She smiled at Mari and patted his mask. "Back soon."
"I see. Thank you." Puppet gently took the camera away from Ruby and set it down. He eased to the floor, Ruby settling in his lap. He brushed his long fingers through her black hair absentmindedly and perused the artwork scattered about. "What's all this? Are you girls drawing?"
Ruby strained to reach a piece of paper and shoved it in Puppet's face. "FOX!"
"That looks just like Mangle. My, aren't you a little artist?"
"Wiggy drew. I did teeth," Ruby seemed so proud of that detail. "And pink!"
"And damn good teeth." Ruby grinned, poking at Foxy's teeth and making the bot sigh.
"So you were already obsessed with foxes and sharp things. Good to know," Bonnie muttered.
"Seeing her and Puppet getting along is so weird." Goldy was looking between the security guard and Puppet with an odd look.
"Very," Chica agreed. "I keep waiting for her to pull a bat out and hit him."
"A tiny bat," Hedy mumbled, still a bit insulted from earlier.
Mike snorted. "She'd fall over trying to swing Betty." He nodded in agreement and smirked at the chuckle Hedy managed.
It was so hard trying to keep her from getting too depressed watching this.
Puppet didn't say anything but he still refused to look at Ruby besides a small glance out the corner of his eye. He was clearly very uncomfortable about this, but then again they all were. It wasn't like he had much room to complain given what was happening during the time of the recording. He still would complain, of course, but when he was done processing how he was supposed to feel about this.
"Mari," Hedy said.
"Hm."
"Any commentary?"
"I'm still mad I don't remember as much as I thought. Satisfactory?"
Most just rolled their eyes at his sarcasm.
Teddy leaned back a bit and shifted. These gaps in their memory were almost painful.
Hedy gave Puppet a look. "Well, I'm less surprised about you interacting with Ruby." She gestured at the screen and poked Ruby's arm hard but playfully. "If you didn't like her, I'd be more worried. She's not a night guard. Not an adult or a teen. No reason in your screwed up logic to look at her any differently."
"She has a good point," Goldy admitted. "Ruby's just a cute kid there."
They all looked at the screen as Puppet seemed to be attempting to tame the toddler's messy hair into a braid.
"What the hell? My hair never braids. How the hell are you managing that?" Ruby asked in bewilderment. She struggled to get it into regular ponytails, nevermind braids. She got the best shampoo and conditioner but it always got ridiculously tangled any way.
"This is so weird," Bonnie whined.
Puppet made an odd noise, like a scoff he was trying to stifle and tucked his thin hands under his armpits as if hiding their hair braiding magic.
"It's a simple french braid, not rocket science." It was no use trying to deny it. He used to often braid children's hair, especially if their hair was unruly. It was a challenge. His thin fingers doubled as combs and he was somehow always more gentle than even most parents. He had the patience to tease out knots and tangles instead of brushing through.
He silently hoped Michael would keep his mouth shut, or simply forgot about making jabs about where Puppet learned the skill. Then again he seriously doubted Michael would mention his own mother in present company.
Goldy, of course, wouldn't say anything.
Timmy was looking at him with a pained expression. The funny little skill his mother taught Puppet was an unintentional reminder that clearly hurt.
"I know rocket science!" Hedy snorted, exaggerating for the joke. "And never could I figure out a French braid. Rocket science seems easier than that." She pointed at the screen.
"My hippie days are over. I have no opinion on this," Jeremy deadpanned, running his hand through his very short hair.
"Me neither," Mike snorted. "Hedy, can I grow my hair out?"
"Only if you let Mari braid it," Hedy said without missing a beat.
Mike and Puppet both made almost the exact same grimace, although obviously Puppet had less obvious expressions.
Meanwhile, Ruby was looking between her still messy hair and Puppet with a thoughtful look.
"No," Both Foxy and Bonnie said at the same time, throwing glares at Puppet like this was his fault. Everyone knew that they were possessive over Ruby but no one ever triggered those instincts lately.
"Yes," Goldy grinned widely. "A truce braid!" she would totally take a photo.
"This is getting weirder," Freddy muttered, shuddering at the image his computer was conjuring against his will.
Most of the bots looked weirded out now.
Even Michael looked weirded out.
There were some things that were just facts. Deals were taken seriously in the building. The night guard position was pretty much cursed.
And Ruby and Puppet were at best hostile and at worst enemies.
"What?" Puppet said, not getting it at first, "Wait-no! Do your own hair. " He squinted, calling upon his sarcasm again but just a little. "Isn't that what teenage girls are supposed to do all the time anyway?"
"Careful with the stereotype, Mari. Ruby and I are too busy to style our hair," Hedy said smirking. "You'd do my hair though right?" She drawled.
"Yes-wait-no. No!" Puppet snapped. "No. I will not be braiding anyone's hair," he spoke slowly and emphatically, giving each word it's own weight while tucking his hands in tighter and staring straight ahead stubbornly.
Goldy was clearly laughing at him now.
Ruby huffed and flicked a lock of hair out of her face. "I didn't say anything. Besides my hair doesn't style. It exists and that's about it."
Foxy and Bonnie were still glaring at Puppet.
Luckily for them, the video continued.
"Mari?"
"Hmm?" Puppet was focused on his braiding as he hummed questioningly.
"Mari's my friend?" she tilted her head back slightly so she could look at him with curious green eyes without interfering with the braiding.
It wasn't even a question for past Puppet. He was honest but still thought for a moment.
"If you like, dear," Puppet said, still focused on his work. "But, I'm not a very good friend. I'm like one of the grown-ups."
"Did...did Puppet just call himself an adult?" Jeremy coughed.
Puppet glared at him. "I did not say I was an adult." He still spat the word like it tasted bad. "I said I was like a grown-up, clearly meaning in how I was supposed..." He paused and Hedy frowned as he clearly struggled not to glance at the kids. "...Supposed to watch over her..." He corrected himself quickly. "Over children. A-and keep an eye on the restaurant. Not play constantly like a friend."
"Sure," Goldy said.
Little Ruby reached up to touch his mask with a grin.
"I like Mari. Friends?"
The bots all felt themselves melt at the sight of the sweet and innocent little toddler. Ruby rarely let her sweet side out anymore.
All but Puppet. He felt the word "friends" like a kick to the gut. He compared it to the struts in his torso snapping.
Don't say yes... he thought futilely to his past self.
He had tried to kill her. Please, don't say yes.
Puppet's voice wavered just a little bit when he answered.
In the present, he tried to close his eyes and block it all out. He was friendly to children usually, but actually calling any children his 'friends' was rare. It always ended...too soon. It had already been a risk with Hedy, he thought at the time. But she was a coworker's daughter. It was more unavoidable.
"O-oh. Well...if you like. That would be lovely, Ruby..." He smiled in that wide unmoving way he only could and for those who knew him better, somehow still seemed a little frightened at the idea.
Ruby's answering smile was brilliant and unguarded. Like the smiles she gave to Foxy during their sword fights, or to Bonnie when they pulled off a prank together.
In the present Ruby looked away. She knew that it was rare to see her smile like that nowadays. Her smiles were sharper and more wary. Always hiding the pain just underneath.
Puppet got very still and just looked straight ahead, refusing to flinch or react like he wanted to in front of anyone, especially Ruby, and Michael even more so.
That didn't stop Michael from snickering.
Hedy quit ignoring him to glare a bit, mostly at his stupidity, and she saw Ruby's hand twitch toward the shotgun, though the night guard didn't pick it up yet. That bastard never learned.
"You weren't cutesy 'friends' with any of the brats, were you?" he said, "I think that makes being best buds with you just as cursed as being a night guard."
Benji leaned more into Hedy, concentrating on maintaining his corporealness rather than anything Michael said. The others had similar thoughts, desperately trying to focus on anything besides Michael's voice.
"About as cursed as being friends with you, Michael," Puppet said evenly, looking right at the man. "That never ended well for anyone." Though his eye lights were a tick duller in sadness, there was still venom in his voice.
Michael hadn't expected Puppet's response, based on his expression, and he glared at Puppet in hatred because of a memory most of the others didn't know about.
Hedy recalled the story Goldy told her about why Puppet didn't officially work security anymore. She looked at Goldy who looked pained but trying to hide it. Goldy had mentioned Michael was friends with that girl too.
Ruby had a flicker of that cold, cruel light in her eyes that showed up when she was dancing on that edge of manic fury she always tried to avoid but Michael triggered so easily in her. Her usual loss of temper was enough to scare the bots sometimes. She didn't want to show them that.
So she took in a deep breath, held it until the urge to break faded.
And then punched Michael when he opened his mouth to respond to Puppet.
It was a good punch. If he was still alive it would have broken his jaw. Sure, the salt barrier stung like hell. But totally worth it. She felt really bad about that time Hedy got salt-mixed paint on her. Ruby hadn't really understood how much that had to have sucked.
"Do us all a favour and shut up."
Hedy smirked at Michael's groan of pain.
The battery light on the screen of the camera was starting to blink red but the bot and toddler didn't notice. It was unsure if they even knew it was recording.
Puppet held Ruby's braids together with one hand while fishing hair ties out of an entirely hidden pocket sewn into the side of his suit.
Puppet instinctively patted the pocket, looking like he was holding his side in pain. He didn't have any more hair ties. He couldn't remember if he used them all so long ago or had thrown away the rest in grief and anger.
"What colour do you want, dear?" Mari said, holding the ties where Ruby could see.
"Red!" she squealed, making grabby hands at the red hairband.
Everyone looked from Foxy to Ruby. The teen shrugged.
"Hasn't changed. It's my favourite colour."
Puppet laughed. Not his reserved chuckle or a sarcastic laugh like they were used to but a genuine laugh at the child's enthusiasm.
Timmy looked so sad. This was after Charlotte, Elizabeth, and him had died, but it was so nice to see that Puppet still managed to hold it together for as long as he did.
Right as he thought that, the battery on the camera died in the past and stopped filming.
"How much left is there?" Hedy asked.
Mike shifted a little closer at the stress in her voice while Goldy came a bit closer to Timmy in comfort.
Jeremy squinted at the camera. "I seriously can't tell. It's not done though."
Hedy nodded, clearly a bit anxious about what else they might see.
Ruby was absently playing with her hair, a slight frown pulling at her mouth as she worked through whatever was in her head.
Foxy and Bonnie were still glaring at Puppet like he was about to steal Ruby or something.
Puppet resolutely ignored the fox and rabbit. They could have her.
"Off with their heads!"
Ginny jumped.
There was the sound of Hedy cackling as the video switched to somewhere that definitely wasn't the Pizzeria for once.
Mike chuckled. "You really were obsessed with taking that camera everywhere."
Hedy shrugged, tugging at a strand of hair that came loose and intentionally mirroring Ruby. "I guess. Kinda convenient for the building."
"The building could probably just use security tapes if it wanted," Goldy said. "It's choosing to use your tapes."
"You don't think it's a little strange I happen to get everything important on camera?"
Freddy shook his head. "No, you loved carrying it everywhere. I bet we could see more of us back then if we went back to an earlier part."
"Oh yeah the building is definitely editing everything into the story it wants to tell," Goldy said with a nod.
The building rumbled a little, impatiently, but it didn't argue with that theory.
"I thought you wanted to be the princess," Wiggy laughed.
"That's no fun," Ginny complained. They couldn't see Hedy yet but the other little girl was decked out in a princess costume with a pot on her head.
Someone had drawn a crude outline of a crown around the outside of the pot.
"All princesses do is sing and wait for a boy to kiss 'em," Ginny said. "Ew! I wanna be the queen."
"Hate to admit it, but good point," Ruby admitted reluctantly.
Ginny glared at Ruby but she couldn't think of anything to really be mad about. She still glared anyway. She glanced at Hedy and immediately dropped the act at Hedy's stony stare.
Hedy didn't even look at her.
Jeremy glanced between Ginny and Ruby.
Hedy had always seemed to gravitate toward a certain personality type.
"What does a queen do though?"
"I dunno! But the red queen liked to cut heads off."
There was the sound of Hedy going "bleh".
"Yeah but she was the bad guy," Hedy pointed out.
"Oh, right."
The camera shifted off Ginny sitting against a wooden wall.
It looked like the two girls were playing next to a small painted shed or playhouse. There was a lot of grass around.
Hedy vaguely recognized it.
Jeremy looked more upset. He knew exactly where that was.
Ginny was tilting her head as she struggled to remember.
"That's my backyard…" she mumbled.
Everyone was looking uncomfortable now. Why was the building showing this? To remind Hedy of the good times?
It didn't change that she was still furious.
Benji tried not to squirm. He knew he was beginning to overstay his welcome as he calmed down.
Hedy still let him sit with her, but it wouldn't last.
Mike watched her. He wished there was something he could do to make her feel better.
The walls creaked but very faintly. Maybe it was stressed its attempts weren't working, but no one really wanted to ask Hedy to translate.
"I know!" Ginny said. "You can be Alice and I'll be the Red Queen looking for you!"
"Sounds like hide and seek," Hedy said.
Ginny picked something up and threw it at the other girl's face.
Hedy yelled as the Bonnie plushy smacked her. Then the two of them collapsed into giggles.
"You hit me!" Hedy shouted with fake pout.
"It's soft!" Ginny defended. She picked up the plushie and started bopping Hedy on the head repeatedly while Hedy tried to bat her away.
"Quit It!" Hedy laughed.
"Never!"
Hedy snickered but suddenly looked more reserved. She looked over her shoulder for a moment. "Gin?"
The other girl stopped her Wiggy smacking to tilt her head, worried about the tone. She dropped the toy and crawled over until she was in Wiggy's personal space, eye to eye. "Hey you know the rules! No being sad here. The playhouse is the No Sad Wiggy zone. You promised!"
Wiggy rolled her eyes but looked away.
"I'll tickle you!" Ginny threatened, bringing her hands up and wiggling her fingers.
"No!" Wiggy squeaked and scrambled back. "No,you gotta answer."
"Ugh fine…"
"Did you get in trouble for helping me slime Uncle Scott and Puppet?"
"Nuh uh…why?"
Hedy shrugged. "I just don't want you to get in trouble because of me."
"You're silly. You're the most fun. I actually get to do fun stuff with you!" Ginny suddenly frowned. "Except hide and seek. How come you always win when we play at the pizzeria. It's no fair! You always get the best hiding places and you find everyone super fast."
Hedy snickered. "I dunno. I told you I was in the vents."
"No you weren't!"
"Yes I was!
"Nuh uh."
"I was!"
Ginny pouted. "I think you're magic."
"That would be cool," Hedy said with a grin.
Ginny frowned again. "I think your daddy was mean, Wiggy." She crossed her arms.
Hedy looked a little shocked. She didn't answer.
Ginny tilted her head the other way.
"You can always hide in the castle if you want to run away."
"I'm not going to run away," Hedy said, eyes flicking to the playhouse that was out of view now.
Ginny shook herself. "No more sad. What did ya get Cheryl?"
"You first."
"Mommy let me get her a scooter!"
"Oh…" Hedy sounded embarrassed. "That's way better than what I got…"
"What is it?"
Hedy ducked and shrugged. "Amelia helped me make her a doll…"
"Who's Amelia?"
"Jeremy's girlfriend. I like her. She's nicer than the last one."
"Where's the doll? Can I see it?!"
Hedy shifted. "It's really stupid looking...Maybe I should ask Jeremy if he can help me buy something else." She didn't sound so sure.
"Nah! Cheryl likes ugly stuff. She thinks they're funny. I bet she'll like the doll."
"Really?" Hedy asked.
"Yeah, if you don't want me to see it, I bet it's really ugly. She'll love it!"
Hedy giggled, cracking a sheepish smile.
"Girls! Lunchtime!" a distant voice interrupted them.
"Aw man!" Hedy groaned, "We weren't sneaky enough."
"I bet Mommy always knows when you're here," Ginny cackled.
The building rumbled a little as the clip ended.
"I didn't see the point in that one," Hedy said.
Ginny wasn't even hurt, too busy staring. For once, she actually recalled that memory, even if it took a while.
Playing with Hedy, alone, were some of her happiest memories.
Hedy never made her feel weird about her play ideas.
The building rumbled again sadly, this time putting it's attention on Goldy if Hedy was going to be difficult.
Goldy frowned. "Maybe it was hinting something. I remember you were always really good at hide and seek too."
"Maybe the building helped her," Bonnie joked.
The building trembled happily and Bonnie blinked.
"Um…" Toby mumbled.
Exactly how long had Hedy been the building's favourite human?
Cheryl had a faraway look, thoughts somewhere else. She wondered where that doll Hedy made her was. It was really funny looking. She did like it a lot, even if she only had it for a short while.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHERYL!"
Hedy jumped at the sound of younger-her's voice and everyone else seemed just as caught off guard by the screech.
Jeremy froze and blanched as he looked back up at the screen, recognizing Cheryl's family's old house. Cheryl's mother sometimes watched Hedy when he was still at school and dad was working.
"Wiggy..." Cheryl whined around the thumb in her mouth. "Don't scare me. Itsh not funny."
She had something squishy tucked under her arm but they couldn't quite make it out.
"Sorry," little Hedy said. "How old are you now, Cherry?!"
Cheryl smiled into the camera and held up four fingers, carefully counting them.
"Fo."
"No, you're five now. You gotta hold up your whole hand."
Cheryl stared at her hand as Hedy pulled her thumb until the younger girl's palm was free, trying to free her hands without dropping the camera.
"See. One, two, three, four, five!"
Cheryl was still staring at her hand. "This is easier!" She held her hand out to Hedy like a high-five. "I'm five!"
"And when you're ten you can use both hands!" Wiggy said excitedly.
Mike's breathing hitched.
Cheryl swallowed and made a small noise, looking down at her hands for a second before tucking them in and looking at Hedy helplessly.
Ruby had gone completely still. It wasn't hard to figure out where this specific video was going.
Goldy made a quiet, distressed sound.
Michael opened his mouth and Ruby just turned to look at him. There was a moment of silence and the ghost slowly closed his mouth again. He recognised that look in her eyes. He'd rather avoid a beating that bad again.
"Are you girls ready to go?" a woman called.
"Yes, Mama!"
"Yes, Ma'am!"
"Are your shoes on?" the woman asked as the girls ran down the stairs.
"Almost!" Wiggy insisted.
Cheryl strained toward the tv as if willing the camera to turn toward her mother. She couldn't even remember what she looked like.
"You're not ready unless your shoes are on," Cheryl's mother scolded.
"Mama, is everyone coming?"
Cheryl sounded so shy and nervous.
"All your friends and cousins. Isn't that fun?"
"You're lucky your family is so big!" Wiggy said. "I don't have any cousins. They sound fun! Like siblings you aren't forced to look at every day." She made a face.
Jeremy and Hedy chuckled.
Ruby's mouth twitched at the description. She had a lot of little 'siblings' after all. Although she'd only ever let Hedy fill the 'big sister' role.
"How much of...of it did the camera film?" Chica asked in a small voice.
Spring was looking very upset.
Jeremy looked close to tears already.
Hedy seemed to sink. "I don't know. I...I don't...I always had it I think...but...I don't..."
Benji's icy hand took Hedy's.
She was starting to tremble a bit but stubbornly stared at the screen.
"It's okay," he said quietly, twisting to look her in the eye and ignoring the pained and odd looks the other kids were giving him. "We're not going to see it." He shook his head emphatically. "Wiggy..." He waved at her face a little bit.
Hedy's eyes dragged down to him in a bit of surprise at the old nickname.
"We're not going to see it."
"O-okay... okay," Hedy breathed.
"You don't know that..." Frederick said, already burying his head in his arms against tucked knees. He sounded angry.
"Yeah, I do."
Frederick looked up a bit startled at the assurance in Benji's voice. He was almost never that sure about anything.
Ruby gave a low growl and they got the feeling that she wasn't happy about even the idea of them watching the incident.
The building hummed soothingly. It didn't want to hurt anyone. It just wanted them to understand. To remember.
Hedy was still tense but she relaxed just enough for the building to decide it was okay to keep playing.
"Hedy, sweetie, it's so nice of you to want to make a movie, but you're going to run out of the film. Why don't you turn it off until we get to Freddy's, okay?"
The next clip played and the background noise was almost deafening. It was a very busy day.
Jeremy turned the volume down just a bit, his hand shaking a bit.
Wiggy was running again, evident by the shaking camera.
"Daddy?"
"Hedy not now, I'm busy."
"Okay," Wiggy said, trailing behind her father who walked while stuffing things into his bag. "What's wrong, Daddy?"
"It's nothing. Some kids apparently broke a couple of arcade games and I've got to..." Joseph paused and turned around. "Hedy, I'm sorry. Things are very crazy right now. I have a lot to do. Go play with your friends okay?"
Michael tried not to smile. He hadn't really expected the arcade games to keep Fitzgerald that busy.
"Hey, Dad! Can I go-"
"Jeremy, watch your sister until I get off. Mrs. Jones needs to run home for the candles and asked you to watch Ginny, Felix, Benji, and Frederick too. Their parents are coming to pick them up after the party."
"But Dad," Jeremy sputtered a bit, "I...Amelia and a bunch of my friends just got here. You said I could go to the mall with them."
Joseph kept walking, clearly stressed while both his kids trailed behind, Hedy practically running to keep up.
"Plans change Jeremy! You can hang out with your friends another time."
"What are you talking about! It's always 'do this' 'do that'. You've never given me time for myself. You're always making me watch Hedy and the kids!"
"You know how she gets into things. Jeremy, we'll discuss this later."
"Dad..."
"Jeremy! Do as I say and watch the kids! Is it that hard to understand!?"
Jeremy blinked, stepping back. The teen looked down. "No, sir."
Joseph left and Hedy looked up at her brother sadly.
"Is Dad mad?"
"No, he's just...busy," Jeremy said a bit bitterly. "Come on." He snatched Hedy's wrist and took her toward the main room.
"Sorry you can't go play with your friends," Hedy said regretfully.
Jeremy didn't respond.
Right before going into the room where they could see Ginny and the others playing near a table, Jeremy crouched down.
"Wigs, you're smart. You know you're not supposed to leave the building without dad or me, or with a stranger right?"
Wiggy nodded.
"And you know you're not supposed to climb the pirate mast right?"
"But Ruby...!"
"Hedy."
"Yeah..."
"And you know if something happens you tell the Puppet or one of the grown-ups right?"
"Right."
"Do you think you and your friends will be okay by yourself? I'm not going to be gone very long."
"There's a bunch of grown-ups."
"Exactly. I'll be right back. I promise. One hour?"
Wiggy nodded happily at her brother's hopeful smile.
"Save me a piece of cake," Jeremy gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Don't tell Dad!"
"Okay!" Hedy waved goodbye, still smiling.
The camera showed Jeremy sneaking through a crowd, passing Frederick and the others, before quietly greeting a small group of teens. He glanced around for their father a few times before ducking out the door.
The video abruptly paused and they weren't quite sure why until there was a small sound.
Jeremy had his head in his hands, tightly covering his eyes while he tried not to cry. Not in front of Michael. Please, not in front of Michael.
Hedy watched her older brother break down and suddenly didn't know what to do. He had never let himself cry in front of her. She had found him a few times but always left him alone because she knew he was hiding from her for a reason.
"Jeremy..." she panicked.
Jeremy shook his head through tears, hands clamped over his mouth to stifle his sobs.
Ruby moved abruptly, swiping the salt around Michael away with Betty and grabbing him by the collar of his shirt.
She didn't say anything, just gave the siblings an understanding look before dragging the ghost out of the room despite his protests.
None of the bots knew what to say, looking at the floor or ceiling. No one could look at the tv, the siblings or each other.
"Do you need a minute?" Goldy asked Hedy quietly.
Hedy didn't even answer. She just stared at her brother. Eventually, she nodded and the bots plus Mike just got up and left toward where Ruby dragged Michael. Even Puppet left despite his own past feelings about Jeremy's responsibility in all this.
Out in the hallway he settled for glaring at Michael in contempt as he hung by the neck from Ruby's hand.
Mike looked pissed. It was a rare expression on the man. He was staring at Michael like he was jealous Ruby could touch the ghost.
Michael met his gaze with a cruel smile. "What? Don't want to comfort your bitch?" He took advantage of their dumbstruck expressions for a second to squeeze another one in. "Or her failure of a brother?"
Goldy frowned at Michael. "Projecting a little there? Jeremy was still a better brother than you."
Timmy glanced at Goldy. That was low but he couldn't really complain.
Mike's eyes widened and his fingers twitched as he glanced at Ruby right as she raised Betty.
"How stupid are you?" Mike hissed. He couldn't understand why Michael was dumb enough to insult Hedy or Jeremy in front of any of them, especially right now.
Ruby briefly let go of Michael long enough to slam the top of Betty into Michael's stomach.
Michael doubled over and choked out a cough. "Worth it…" he tried to laugh.
Ruby dragged him back up by the collar, gaze flat now. "Will it still be worth it when I drag you back to Fright and lock the door? Will it still be worth it when we have a rerun of that last night?" she asked, tone as flat as her gaze.
Michael tried to look defiant but he wasn't very good at it with how powerless he really was. The feeling of breaking bones and being stabbed was still fresh no matter how long it had been.
"Jeremy? I..I never blamed you, you know..." Hedy said back in the room as Benji got down from her lap.
Jeremy didn't respond.
"You couldn't have known," Hedy tried. She shot a look at the ghosts. "The kids can be angry all they want but it still wasn't your fault."
"He-"
"Ginny, don't," Hedy snapped at the ghost, pissed they hadn't left with the others.
The ghosts just stared at the floor.
Hedy looked more terrified when Jeremy let out a sob. It wasn't a sound she ever wanted to hear from her brother.
"I shouldn't have left," the man sobbed quietly. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have..."
"Yeah you shouldn't have," Benji muttered.
"Benji, please," Hedy begged but he ignored her anger.
"And we're still mad," Benji continued. He trailed off.
"But it isn't like we don't know you're not the one who killed us. That was Michael," Ginny said bitterly. "It was only a tiny tiny bit your fault."
"Purple Guy probably would have distracted you anyway," Frederick said begrudgingly. "He got your dad."
"He what?' Hedy asked.
"Yeah. Those broken arcade games. He broke them to keep Mr. Fitzgerald busy," Felix said sharply, still staring at the floor and refusing to look at Jeremy.
"How do you know that?" Hedy asked.
"He tells us. When you're not here. Or whenever we're alone," Ginny said, shrugged.
"He makes fun of killing us," Cheryl muttered.
Jeremy glanced up in horror.
Hedy glared toward where the others had gone. She figured Michael did something like that but always hoped the kids knew how to avoid him.
She looked at them seriously. "Tell me or Ruby whenever he does that."
Felix made a face while the others just looked away, Benji was the only one who nodded and it was small.
Jeremy shook his head again. "I.."
"You don't have to watch the rest," Hedy said quietly.
"I have to. If you watch it, I have to," Jeremy said.
"No, you don't. I'll be fine…" Hedy said. "You should leave. Go home. Play with the kids. It's not fair you spend your nights putting up with this."
"Hedy. I'm staying. I just need a minute okay?"
Hedy nodded, silently thanking the children for not tearing her brother down as much as she expected.
The emotional response from them was mostly begrudging acceptance and assurance. It wasn't really for his sake. They were all about to have a really bad time. There was still a video to finish
Hedy reached for him and Jeremy switched to Mangle's previous seat to let her hug him.
Jeremy hugged his baby sister tightly, crying into her hair as the guilt twisted something deep in his soul. He remembered most of that conversation. The worst decision he ever made. It haunted him, and he was going to carry it for the rest of his life.
Amelia had the patience of a saint. Why she was willing to marry him, he never understood. For years, he was too terrified of leaving Hedy alone for long. Their dates or visits were always cut short. She told him how she felt being put on the sidelines through his anxiety, but somehow she had been willing to help him, even standing up for Hedy as she got older and demanded more freedom from his smothering.
"I'm so sorry," Jeremy whispered, breathing into Hedy's hair. He wasn't sure which part he was apologising for. All of it? All his insanity? Did he even apologise for how horribly he treated Mike in his terror? The guilt hit him harder. Knowing him, maybe he didn't. None of these realisations were new. He just never wanted to think of them. Stupid sentient building…what the fuck kind of life was this where he blamed a building for his breakdown?
The kids looked away. They didn't really care about the apology. They knew he was sorry already.
Jeremy never expected to be forgiven. Even if the kids somehow snapped out of their spiralling, he didn't think he deserved it.
Hedy couldn't help but feel more frustrated as her brother cried. This wasn't his fault. It never was. How on earth was she supposed to help Jeremy if he believed it was?
It was quiet as the siblings got their breathing under control and the ghosts tried to keep themselves calm as they all waited for the rest to come back.
Ruby violently shook Michael every time he tried to say something. He'd tried to say something when everyone arrived in the hallway and she'd threatened to punch him again.
Her patience was almost completely used up by now. They were honestly amazed it had lasted this long. But right now, Ruby looked awfully close to the edge.
"I swear, you say anything else about Jeremy and I will find a way to kill a ghost," she hissed in his ear, too low for anyone to hear. "So I'll ask again. Do you want to risk that Michael?"
"N-no," he said, coughing. "I wasn't go-" He wisely shut up at the rattling noise Puppet made.
"It might not kill him, but I bet a woodchipper with salt coated blades would really hurt," the bot said.
Goldy looked at him reproachfully at the insanity of that but didn't disagree.
"Do you think Jeremy's going to be okay?" she asked, trying to take the attention off Michael.
"I'm more worried about Hedy," Mangle admitted quietly.
"We're all in trouble," Freddy pointed out gently. "This is going to be hard for everyone. Even you Mangle. You were there too."
"I'm fine! I was...I was in another room. I didn't see..." Mangle trailed off and looked down. "I..didn't see anything." Guilt dripped in her tone.
Toby moaned softly. They should have seen something…
"We need to take care of ourselves too. But yes, we should probably keep an eye on Hedy," Goldy said. "And Jeremy. And...the kids..." She looked uncomfortable. She looked at Ruby, ignoring Michael.
Ruby nodded. "We'll keep an eye on everyone. Including each other."
What she was dreading was finding out whether she was at the pizzeria or not when it happened.
If she was, the Originals would freak out. So would Hedy. And Jeremy.
She couldn't wait until this was over...
Goldy perked up slightly and glanced back at the room. "We can go back now," she said.
Inside they found Hedy partly out of her chair to lean her shoulder against Jeremy's.
Benji was still sitting with her but the other kids had gathered closer, awkwardly looking to the floor instead of at Jeremy.
The man, the oldest of them and yet the first to break, listlessly looked up when they came in but cracked a small reassuring smile. He moved to get out of the seat Mangle had claimed but she shook her head at him and took his previous seat, setting the camera on the floor in front of the tv.
She didn't want to risk holding it and destroying it if she got really upset.
Ruby shoved Michael back into the circle of salt and Timmy gave him a stern look.
Then the teen settled between Foxy and Bonnie again and prepared herself for the rest of the video.
Benji sat back with the rest of the kids. He didn't think Hedy would appreciate him being near her again, not when he and the others were upset with Jeremy.