Grab your popcorn and get comfy, this ones loooooong. There is also 1 singular bad word (I counted).
The same echoing footsteps, the same feelings of magic, the same thoughts of beauty, the same loneliness. All so bittersweet and familiar as his final night encroached over him as if the final boss of a game. But not even deep down Cooper expected this night to be the same as the rest of the weeks' nights, just with a little bit, and by a little bit he meant a lot more emotion.
Monty had been told by the others that Cooper was on his last legs here at the pizza Plex, Not that he really cared at all. It made no difference to him.
He wasn't even in the atrium yet and was already so encapsulated by sadness. He didn't want to leave this place. It had become his home in a way. It felt right to be there, despite all the crazy going ons during Cooper's peaceful and pacifist reign as the night guard. He developed a sense of nostalgia, even though as a kid he had never once stepped foot into the pizza Plex. His mother would never have allowed that.
Sweat trickled down the back of his neck, even though he was cold. Faint, transparent, hallucinations played around him as he exited the elevator and stepped out into the neon, retro haven that was the atrium. What was going on? He saw faint glimpses of his adventures, of his interactions and encounters with his robot friends, and robot and not robot not friends. The latter hallucinations being less welcomed by Cooper, yet still enjoying the memories that played out around him.
The aforesaid memories grew stronger and more intense, demanding his attention.
It was like a superpower, being able to see holograms almost. He saw the memory of Roxy running up the escalator to help him from the knife welding maniac, he saw Chica grab Gregory and take him to safety. He saw saw himself order a pizza, not very remarkable... But still a memory nonetheless.
He saw the fazerblast elevator open up and watched as Vanny, Monty and Gregory ran out into Roxy Raceway, Gregory less willing than the first two. He saw several instances of himself talking to his friends, and enjoying his time with them. And then, he saw the memory of himself and Roxanne, sitting on a bench just outside of fazerblast. Roxy scooted towards him, she then laid her head on his shoulder, and held his hand. Cooper could remember his heart beating like tribal drums during a sacrifice, he could remember his brain unleash all the stored chemicals that made him feel that life was worth living. He felt his chest ignite with passion. He felt love.
He cried.
He created oceans knowing that a moment as beautiful as that one may never happen again. He loved that wolf. He didn't know why, but he loved that plastic, life mimicking, artificial, meant for children, quick money grab wolf. So greatly. He missed hugging her, and holding her hand, despite still having the opportunity to do so one last time. He kept crying.
He saw another memory of himself Checking his fazwatch with Roxanne and Chica behind him. He saw himself get up and run somewhere, with Chica and Roxy following him. He looked to the second floor, and witnessed Monty collapse with the hiss and crack of a taser. He saw a boy. He then saw himself and the boy hug. He kept crying. This place meant so much to him. He couldn't lose it, surely not. He saw himself and Chica share a slice of pizza, he saw himself and Roxy pass Freddy and Gregory on their way to fazerblast, he saw himself and Freddy talking, he saw himself, Roxy, Freddy and Gregory all walking to the bowling alley, he saw himself walk in on his first day, admiring the place. That man had no idea what he was in for.
These were just the memories in the atrium, the other attractions held so many more.
The memories and figures overwhelmed him, he shut his eyes and fell to the floor. He lost consciousness for a moment. Then he regained it. It felt like a drug trip, one he was grateful for, yet also not. He appreciated being reminded of the best time of his life, yet hated being reminded that it was almost over. He opened his eyes and was greeted with a section of carpet that was completely soaked. It was his own tears. He got up and looked around, before seeing that the figures has vanished.
To an outside observer, he looked insane, psychotic, like a lunatic. Maybe he was high or drunk. But an outside observer wouldn't be able to see what he saw. They wouldn't be able to feel the emotions he felt. They would just see a man stumble around a bit, looking around intensely, bumping into things before falling to the floor. But who could blame that outside observer? They didn't know any better.
Cooper gathered his bearings and attempted to continue on like nothing had happened. That would be no easy feat. Stuff like what he just experienced aren't exactly regular occurrences for him. Despite his troubled childhood, he had never touched drugs or alcohol once. That was a real miracle.
He soldiered on towards Freddy's room. He had ignored the lovable bear for nearly the whole week, giving him time to recuperate after the bombshell that was Gregory's permanent absence was dropped on him.
He had no intention of telling the animatronics what had happened to him. He gave himself no time to recover from the surreal experience he went through. He wasn't sure if it was wise or not. Perhaps he should have just sat down for a few minutes, gotten some water maybe, no. His stoicism prevailed.
He marched towards Freddy's room. Upon achieving a closer proximity to it, he could not hear sobbing, or crying, or anything. The curtains were closed. Was he in there? Cooper asked himself. There was only one way to find out. The same three knocks. Almost like a signature at this point. A signature of a dying star. Freddy opened his door and invited Cooper in.
They both took a seat as a conversation began.
"Hello night guard. It's good to see you again." His words were genuine. As they had always been.
"Hey Freddy, sorry for not visiting you sooner. I figured you needed some space and time to yourself."
"Wise decision. It certainly helped. Thank you, for being considerate and thoughtful." It wasn't a big deal to Cooper, but to Freddy it meant a lot apparently.
There was a short pause and moment of silence before Freddy spoke up. "So, uhh... Last night eh? How are you feeling?" Freddy knew the answer. Everyone knew the answer. He was just attempting to make conversation.
"Sad. Nothing more nothing less." Cooper replied bluntly. The closed sentence gave Freddy nothing to build off of to keep the conversation going. Luckily Cooper was the spark that made the flame.
"So if you don't mind me asking... Why were you so distraught to Gregory's... departure?" He was curious. It was clear it was a hypocritical question, but he wanted to know more.
"Well... I..." He sighed. "It had been so, so long since I had somebody to love, somebody to care for, somebody to look forward to seeing, someone I had a connection with. And just when I felt as though that opportunity had come back to me... It was ripped away." He looked down.
"I-I'm sorry, you probably don't want to hear my sob stor-" He was cut off.
"Freddy. Continue. You always think of others, think about yourself for a change. Please." Cooper was intrigued by his story. He wanted to learn more.
"If you insist. Anyways, it tore me apart. I see so many children every day, but I don't have a personal connection with any of them. They are all just faces in a crowd, literally. I believe I have told you about Bonnie before, no?"
"You have."
"Yes. Well he and I were great friends, the star duo, nothing could tear is apart. Stuck together like super glue. At the time, our feelings were platonic, I think. But the more time goes by, the more I miss him. The more I miss him the stronger my feelings have become for him..." His voice began to subtly decompose.
"I want him back so much..." Tears rolled. "I don't know how I manage without him... " He looked upwards as if he was begging to a higher being. Cooper said nothing. He sat quietly and listened. Freddy wiped his face with his paws.
"Anyways... I craved the connection I had with him. Whether it was love or not, I don't know. And I found that connection with Gregory. And having had him taken away from me... So unfairly, so unjust... Just like Bonnie..." He went on. Cooper noticed Chica's figure walk by in the tiny gap in the curtains.
"I never had a chance to tell either of them Goodbye. I never got to tell them how much they meant to me. Especially Bonnie. Looking back, I-I... T-Think I loved him..." He wasn't ashamed to admit it. "He was always there to lift me up whenever I needed it. Whenever I needed him. A true superstar."
"So losing Gregory reminded you of Bonnie? Is that why it was so impactful?" Cooper asked.
"Yes. That and more. I never truly experienced what being a father was like. But it was nice to have someone to care for again." He sniffed. "Some of my favourite memories were created with Bonnie by my side. His existence gave mine purpose. I was the star of the show, always. But he was the star of my world. Then he disappeared. I carried on because it was what I had always done, and it would've been what he wanted me to do... But it was so wrong. I have never been the same since."
"That's awful Freddy." Cooper tried to sympathize. "I don't think anyone would think that a face as lovable and as iconic as yours would hide such a backstory."
"Never judge a book by it's cover. Bonnie taught me that."
"What were some of your memories with him? Since you mentioned it, I'm curious."
"Well... I remember our duets together. They were incredible. My voice mixed with his bass. It was pure magic." Freddy relaxed whilst recalling his joyful past experiences.
"Just him and I on stage, with the crowd at our mercy, we played. And we played well if I do say so myself. Those times were pure happiness. When we were up there together there wasn't a worry in the world. After performances, we would both go to my room and talk together, laugh together, cry together, whatever it was. For hours. It felt like it was only us in our little world."
He held his hand to his chest as he talked. "Sorry for rambling. I can get sidetracked easily when talking about a topic I enjoy. If you were looking for specific memories, then sorry to disappoint. I don't have many specific memories. Just doing what I was made to do with him was all it took to keep me more than satisfied."
"Wow. I don't really know what to say." Cooper was Glad that Freddy had a chance to rant and let it all out. "Do you feel better now that you've told someone?" Cooper asked.
"Slightly." Freddy replied.
"Slightly better is better than not better."
They were interrupted when they heard a knock at the door. Freddy got up to open it. He was met with Glamrock Chica standing at the door holding pizzas.
"Hi! I came bearing gifts!" She joyfully exclaimed as she walked into Freddy's room.
"Hello." Cooper and Freddy said in sync with the same level of enthusiasm. Chica sat down after placing three extra-large pizzas on the coffee table just in front of them.
"I hope I wasn't interrupting anything important."
"No. We were just talking about Freddy." Cooper replied.
"Oh yeah. What about Freddy?" Chica asked.
"More about Bonnie and Gregory actually." Freddy corrected her.
Chica opened her eyes wide. "But aren't you usually really sensitive to that topic Freddy?"
"Yes. I trust Cooper though. It's his last night after all. And he's a great guard. He deserves to know."
"Thanks for reminding me." Cooper said sarcastically.
"Actually, I don't think I have described Bonnie to you have I?" Freddy questioned.
"You've mentioned he was great and cool and all that, but nothing specific no."
"Well let's change that. Umm... Think of the nicest, most wonderful person, or robot if you prefer, that you know, and dou- no, triple everything that is good about them. That's Bonnie."
"I know so much more about him now." Cooper joked.
"Anyways. Enough about me and Bonnie." Freddy declared as he grabbed a slice of pizza and put it in his mouth.
"Chica, you've been quiet." Freddy said with a mouthful of pizza.
"Because I got here not even 15 seconds ago..." She objected.
"Tell us something we don't know about you. Make tonight interesting." This was a first for Freddy. He had never really been the party host or the one that keeps the conversation going, but tonight was different apparently.
"Umm... I don't know. Don't put me on the spot like that!" She continued to think.
"Ooh... Okay, what if I told you guys that..." She paused for dramatic effect. "...I hate my attraction?" She picked up a slice of pizza slowly.
"I'd believe it." Cooper was a bit too quick on the trigger. Chica looked at him, slightly insulted.
"I would too." Freddy agreed.
"Huh. That's not what I expected out of you two." She spoke with her mouth full.
"Chica." Cooper said bluntly.
"Yeah?"
"You're attraction sucks." Cooper didn't regret speaking his mind, and instead was ready to brace for whatever Chica had in store for him. A slice of pizza entered his hand as a defence mechanism.
Her face went from furious to sad. "I know it does. Who the hell in their right mind wants to come to a mega pizza Plex to work out? Not to mention how counter-intuitive it is, with all the junk food and stuff. If they wanted something fitness-based they should've had a trampoline park, or something fun along those lines. Oooh, maybe even a pool and like a mini water park kind of thing... That would bring in the guests..." She dazed into nothingness, seeming to be thinking of how to make her attraction better, and in turn make her more popular.
"Agreed. A trampoline attraction for this place would be amazing." Cooper supported her idea. Couldn't really pitch it though, since he was fired and everything.
"Or they should just double down with the junk food thing. Maybe like a kitchen where you can make your own desserts... kid-friendly of course. Hot ovens would be disastrous around 6 to 12-year-olds" Chica said.
"They aren't that dumb." Freddy commented.
"You'd be surprised Fazbear." Chica told him.
The group then heard loud footsteps approach the window. The three of them turned their heads to see a plastic wolf stick her head between the curtains, peering inside to take a look at what was happening. The three of them stared back at the face. It must've intimidated her, because it quickly vanished. The door to Freddy's room opened soon after, none other than Roxanne entered
"Hi Roxanne!" Chica almost squealed upon seeing her BFF.
"Hi." Roxy mumbled in a rather neutral tone.
"Hey Roxy." Cooper replied. He smiled at her wholeheartedly.
"Greetings Roxanne." Freddy replied. A stark contrast.
"Hiya." She said as she sat down next to Cooper and grabbed a slice of pizza. She ate the whole slice in one go thanks to her huge wolf mouth. It was rather intimidating.
It was beginning to feel reminiscent of the time Cooper got out of hospital and met up with everyone, however this time there was, unfortunately, no Gregory.
"So, what did I miss?" Roxy started.
"Ehh. Nothing interesting." Chica replied. "Just some complaining."
"About?" Roxy pressed.
"My attraction. Its more a deterrent honestly." She rolled her eyes.
Roxy couldn't relate. She treated her racetrack like her baby. "Sorry to hear that?" She wasn't exactly sympathetic. "Speak for yourself Chica, my attraction is the best. Fight me for it Freddy. I dare you." She stared him down.
Cooper rolled his eyes. If she was to gloat anymore a facepalm would come next.
"Roxy," Freddy rebuttled, already sick of her. "I don't care which of our attractions is the most popular."
"Yes you do. And deep down, you know it's mine." It was like she was trying to create conflict.
"Roxy. I love you and all, so in the most polite way I can, shut up." Cooper wasn't interested in a war breaking out on his last night.
"Wah? Rude." Roxy shot back. She did eventually shut up. Maybe she hadn't changed.
The group began to talk about anything that crossed their minds, enjoying the little time they had left with each other. It was nice to all of them. eventually the conversation ran dry, and with it the pizza. Chica excused herself to get dessert. Only three remained.
"So Roxy, one thing I have been curious to know..." Cooper's voice graced their ears with no warning. Roxy braced for what he was about to say. "Why are you so... Umm... Like yourself?"
"What? Is that an insult?" She asked confused.
"No no, eh, how do I put this... Why do you constantly feel you are the best then hate yourself?"
Freddy was a little surprised they were openly talking about this in front of him.
"Umm... God, I don't know." She stumbled on her words.
"There's got to be a reason. There's no way you were programmed to be like this. Maybe the competitive side of you I can see but not the emotionally unstable side." He kept pressuring.
"Why are you asking?"
"Learning about Freddy's past has me curious about yours."
"When did you learn about Freddy's past?" She asked, attempting to deflect the conversation.
"At the beginning of the night, answer me Rox." He was thirsty for knowledge.
She sighed. "Well, I suppose Foxy would have something to do with it. He was the first of the original band that I met. I had no idea I was replacing him, until he told me himself. I had 2 days to get to know him, before he was taken away. He was something special. In the short time I picked up a lot form him, including his stubbornness."
Freddy chuckled when he heard that. "That fox would insist he was right with just about anything. Even if you were an expert in your field, he'd still somehow make you think he knew better. He was the type to haggle with a grocery store clerk, and actually get his way. Looking back, it was a talent." Freddy reminisced.
"Anyways. As I mentioned, I was replacing him. Foxy was tremendously popular, so I wasn't sure why I was his replacement, he didn't need one. But living up to the expectations of the crowd knowing how high the bar was set for you is tough. I played alright. But lots of people held grudges against me, for it was I who took away their star, it was I who was the 'new and improved' Glamrock Foxy. That got to me. I never wanted to be Foxy's replacement, I would have loved to perform along side him. But that's now how it ended up. I think people's assumptions of me made me think I needed to be more like Foxy. So I started being overconfident, arrogant, stubborn. I tried to fit the mold that was made by the fans for me. I started to be someone I wasn't. And I think I eventually got used to it. I was never happy with it though. Far from it."
Roxy had never talked about her past, and if ever it was brought up she would shy away and change the topic. Cooper was a fraction frustrated that he was only learning this now, and not when he had first met her and gotten to know her. But he was also relieved, that he did in the end get to know.
Cooper wasn't around when foxy was a performer, this was a long time ago. When Cooper had taken the job Roxy seemed like she had been there from the start, but apparently not. He wanted to know more about Foxy, and who he was. He sounded like he was painful to be around.
"What was Foxy like?"
"That's Glamrock Foxy to you." Roxy told him sternly. "Respect your elders."
"Sorry... What was Glamrock Foxy like?"
"He was nice. He had an mature take on the world... Especially with his language. But when he was needed he was reliable, and a good friend. He would be there of you needed him. Nothing compared to Bonnie though." Freddy told him. "He wasn't an excellent musician though, he would consistently screw up notes in songs and make the rest of is look bad. The crowd still loved him though. I never found out why."
Roxy had a different take. "To me, he was like my older brother. The closest one to it if I ever had one. Kind of weird though, because I'm pretty sure he liked me, I never reciprocated. He was openly flirty, kind of touchy, which i never liked, and ridiculously confident. More than all of us combined. I don't know, maybe he just found me pretty. Everybody does." She flicked her hair and waged her tail in cockiness when she spoke the last words. She was right though.
"But as Freddy said, he was a good friend, and he had a great heart. Yeah, I miss him." She sighed deeply when she finished her sentence. Cooper put a hand to her leg.
"What did he play?"
"He played the guitar along with Chica. He was the lead guitarist, never took it seriously though. That reminds me. He was a trouble maker. Any chance he got to make an employee's life hell he took. I can't recall any specific moments... But just trust me on that." The lovable bear gave a hearty chuckle. "It was always amusing having an enraged technician storm out of parts and service dragging Foxy by his ears because he wouldn't stop talking. Or something along those lines. He made the mundane things interesting."
The three heard the door open and turned their heads accordingly. Chica emerged bearing more gifts. "I brought nachos and cookies this time!" She joyfully exclaimed.
Time flew as they chatted and chatted and chatted and chatted. As the cookies and nachos faded, so did time. It was 5:30 The end was in sight. For Cooper at least, everyone else was staying.
The mood shifted from happy and bubbly to blue and glum. Everyone felt it. Cooper and Roxy held each other whilst the last of the conversation was said. They attempted to savour what little time they had left together.
Before they knew it, 2 tiny little beeps came from Cooper's fazwatch. 5:50. "Well." he sniffed. "I guess this is goodbye. I just want to tell you guys that you mean a lot to me. More than you probably realise." He turned his head to the wolf. "Especially you." His voice shook a little. He was nervous.
"It's not goodbye, it's just 'till next time." Chica told him to lift his spirits. Didn't really do anything. She smiled at him, that did do something.
"Goodbye superstar. If you ever, by pure coincidence see Gregory ever again, tell him I wish him the best, wherever life takes him. And the same to you my friend." He put his paw out for a handshake, oddly formal. Cooper accepted, and with the strongest grip he could muster, he shook that bear's hand, harder than it had ever been shaken before. "Pleasure knowing ya." He told.
"And you." He said as turned towards Roxy. He looked her in the eye directly, and leaped into a hug quicker than a cheetah. He held on tightly, too tight. Felt as though he was clinging to her for dear life. If Roxy was a human she would've been crushed. But she wasn't, and she reciprocated, just a little less forceful. He practically buried his head in her hair he was leaning on her and hugging her so tight. It was clear he cared. It was clear he loved.
He didn't want it to end. She didn't want it to end. Why did it have to? The two clung to each other for seemed like eternity, unbreakable bonds. Roxy would never be the same without this guy that seemingly came out of nowhere. Cooper would never be the same without this robot who's primary function was to make money out of. It was odd how that worked.
Alas, their hug ceased. More kind words were shared and goodbyes were said, then Cooper was on his way. "Tell Monty I'm gone. He probably won't notice." Were his last words. He remembered the hallucinations he had at the start of the night, and it hurt him even more. He felt like a broken ghost. A drifter with no purpose. As he approached the elevator to the lobby, his heart sank. The fire had burned out, all that remained was darkness.
the doors opened and he stepped out into the beautiful, warm lights of the lobby. But he was like a black hole. no positive emotion to be found at all. Each glum step after glum step eroded away at his core, each step feeling like he was traveling further, and further away from home.
He reached the entrance shutter doors which started to roll up as 6am ticked by, seemingly inviting him to leave. But he didn't want to. He eventually worked up the courage to leave, until he heard heavy footsteps approach him from behind.
He turned around expecting the worst, maybe Monty had wanted to finish him off. It would've saved him from the emotional pain. To his surprise, it was Roxy. She came in hot, and scared the shit out of him. He recoiled from the wolf out of instinct before she ferociously grabbed him and and pulled him in for a passionate kiss, like a fisherman reeling in a catch. The fire that died had immediately been sparked up again in Cooper's heart. He joined in and wrapped his arms around her. He didn't want to let go. A parting gift.
As quick as it started, it ended. With Roxy quickly retreating back to the atrium without saying a word. It was like a drug, it had made him feel good, but after it was done he felt so much worse. He walked through the open shutter doors, never to see the band again, a raincloud slowly following.
Maybe.