FNAF Security Breach: Whistleblower

by FrostByterFang

Sequel to Ruination. Takes place 2 years after the fall and collapse of the mega PizzaPlex. Luis' free runs into the supply depot finally catches up to him in the worst way possible: Bringing about a series of consequences that could bring trouble to the bots and the rest of the family. Vanessa meanwhile decides to orchestrate a rescue operation to save him. Full summary inside.

13. What Binds the Wearied Heart

~Saturday~

GREGORY

He's never had a friend come over before. Ever.

Cassie was clearly nervous too; the girl unable to sit still and pulling at her hands like Sun does in an learned and newly acquired habit. As far as Gregory knew, Cassie's never had a friend come over before either- and especially after her lonely party at the PizzaPlex a long time ago. The two were unable to focus on much today beyond that thought; but they decided to help Chica and Sun in the kitchen to help distract their nerves. After all, its not like they're doing much else but getting too riled up at the idea that they may somehow chase this one friend away.

Therapy has helped the two of them gain some confidence, but they both cannot help but be respectively nervous of having anyone over; seeing as no one's come by before. The house wasn't huge (albeit, not too small either), crowded, and filled with possible death machines- given the wrong person looks at them that way. Why would they have invited anyone over in the last two years they've lived here? Its bad enough they're ostracized in school just for being associated with the Fazbear crew. Gregory himself meanwhile was heavily skeptical of whoever comes in here anyways; paranoid that someone may rat them out to Fazbear Entertainment as well. But alas, considering recent developments, cover no longer mattered. They may as well go out and invite people over to see first-hand that the animatronics weren't anything to fear or laugh at.

Why do people laugh at us for hanging around robots? That's so stupid, he couldn't help wondering every day that he's been here. Its bad enough none of Cassie's friends showed up because of that... because she likes the Fazbear characters and that's apparently a taboo.

He remembered: The day she came to live here, she told him about the day she said goodbye to her other school. She transferred out and couldn't be more glad. Apparently, none of the people there except a few of her more kindly teachers cared enough to send some cards with her (she still had them to this day). Her former friends meanwhile blatantly told her that her 'obsession' with the dorky-looking anthropomorphic animal bots were weird and going to a party at the PizzaPlex wasn't their idea of fun.

Cassie had felt personally attacked by that (Gregory too, once she told him this). Having been raised with the same love for them as her father had, she hadn't wanted to remain at the school anyway. In a way, their comments felt like they were directed at family. And had she stayed at that school, she was on a one-way road to getting bullied for her love for them. And while here she was still ostracized for the same thing, she found her life improved in a plethora of ways-

Except for the fact that they STILL can't make any friends. Until recently.

This was the day Gregory felt would be what makes this little get-together. Jacob explained that he loved the bots back at the park, but he'd only been rescued by them. He's never actually experienced a full day with a bot in a casual setting. Moreover, it seems his bonding with them was shared on the fact that Vanny had nearly killed him. If it wasn't for that trauma bonding, would they have even connected as possible friends outside of that? Most likely not, Gregory wondered.

On another note, Bonnie and Freddy were concerning matters- or more like, their remnant. Gregory knew the rabbit was especially nervous of having Jacob come by. After his spell the day before, one can understand that he was respectively on his toes. And Freddy? Well, same reasons, except he's never had a spell before. And if he did, there's no telling if it'd be like Bonnie's or not. Worse, it could happen at any given time, should it do so. Thankfully, Freddy said he's felt well and hadn't noticed anything particularly strange about himself; so the group proceeded to set up for the Wilsons' arrival.

Still... would any of the Wilsons be able to sense the wrongness within them? Would they notice anything odd about Bonnie and Freddy in particular? Will either of them start spurting weird fluids? It was gross, embarrassing, and terrifying to think about. He was afraid Jacob would never want to communicate with them again because of it. But, Gregory also reasoned that if Jacob wouldn't stay because of a random little nosebleed Bonnie or Freddy cannot control, then why stay friends with someone who actually hadn't understood them at all?

Gregory knew the Wilsons' arrived when Bonnie's ears gave it away. The buck's appendages were always the first to move; and unconsciously, Gregory had found himself watching him until the actual time came. He'd been sitting out at the kitchen table just spaced out, bouncing his leg nervously in an odd, and almost perfectly rabbit-like approximation of a bunny wanting to give the warning Thump to signal danger. His maroon optics widened briefly, his lip-line briefly stiffening.

"They're here," He told the kitchen crew.

Vanessa flew past them with her hair just having barely been put up. The strands were all over the place; Gregory wanting to laugh but feeling a little too uptight to do so. She even added the rainbow extensions today; feeling a bit forward and bold with the idea. His adoptive mother was the first to open the door too; her voice floating up in a way that Gregory can tell she was trying to sound as composed as possible.

Meanwhile, Gregory and Cassie were shoved by Chica, the hen ushering them towards the living room and nearer to the entrance where Vanessa was. "Go on! Go say hi to your friend!" She clucked. "Don't stick in here with me! Make yourself a life-long friend!"

Gregory caught eyes with Freddy; the bear even flashing him a thumbs up and smiling in a way that helped bolster his confidence a bit. He passed the brown ursine the same gesture and crept to the main room, watching Vanessa take the- WOW. That was a HUGE pot of pudding! He and Cassie gawped as she bustled past them with it and put it on the kitchen island.

"Smells good, don't it?" She winked at the kids.

"Yeah," Gregory agreed, being able to smell it for himself. How did Mrs. Wilson make it smell almost fruity?

Gregory couldn't believe that as he turned towards the family. Jacob was seen staring eye-wide around, while Mr. and Mrs. Wilson tried to not look as obvious about it. They were doing the judgemental parent thing where they were carefully eyeing the environment for anything odd. There was no stains on the floors for Mrs. Wilson to spot however; as Sun had been thorough about mopping and vacuuming this morning. The walls were free of any accidental claw marks (all were filled in as they happened regardless). The kitchen smelled wonderfully of Chica's cooking and contained an orderliness that left Jacob's adopted mother nodding in satisfaction. Beyond the obvious crowding and... said crowd being actual seven foot or taller robots, everything was in order.

And they haven't noticed or sensed anything wrong yet, Gregory observed. Guess they can't tell Freddy or Bonnie are weird? Or its simply not that imposing to them.

"What a tidy home," Mrs. Wilson began, focusing on Vanessa. "You own this residence?"

"I do, yeah," She shrugged. "I believe I mentioned my house flipping business at the park?"

"You did! Yes-"

The two women started talking it up; meanwhile, John, if Gregory recalled the father's name correctly, watched the bots in the area. He made awkward eye contact with Sun; the former attendant eyeing him back with a rather interested expression. John also jolted when Sun scanned him, hummed at a thought, then nod. The bot continued his kitchen work beyond that; leaving the poor man confused.

He doesn't know it, but he just got his background checked, Gregory recalled. Had they had anything shady in their background, like a prison record... they'd be throwing them out the door in a heartbeat. Man, embarrassing way to lose a friend number 2: Your own family kicks them out for having a felony.

Suddenly, there was a loud THUMP and Jacob could be heard screaming, "I JUST TRIPPED ON AN ACTUAL GATOR! FREAKING AWESOME! You gonna chew my leg off?"

"Wha- GATOR-?" Mrs. Wilson cried.

She went to the entrance of the living room and stopped- then realized what she was looking at.

Jacob had recovered quickly; jumping up and down around the disoriented Monty and smiling brightly at him. Monty meanwhile was watching the kid with clear confusion and raised a brow ridge; seemingly at a loss for words. At Jacob's question though, he seemed to find himself and muttered, "Er... no? I don't chew on kids. Just naughty adults who wanna hurt kids. Or other bots that try that too."

"Did you ever chew on anyone before?" He asked with way too much interest.

"...No humans. Just bots."

"AW. Dang! Well, did you ever chew on the rabbit lady?"

Monty was now passing everyone helpless looks. "How does he know about her-? I-" He sat up and squinted, "I don't- I kinda did? I had my jaws around her once, at least. But kid, how'd you even-"

"COOOOOLLLLL!"

And then, as fast as a bullet, Jacob was zipping off before the gator can finish his query. He nearly ran into Sun and smiled up at him like he was seeing a grand spectacle; the bot's lanky height and still no less imposing size a fascinating feature to him- even though they've met before. He "EEEEEE'D!" and zipped away before Sun could even say 'Hello'. He was moving at a speed that could go sub-sonic; gawping openly at every single bot he saw in the area. He checked out everyone; DJ he was struck breathless by, and Roxy got some 'Oooh's' and 'ahhh's' from him. Chica warranted a giggle like he was fighting the need to fluff her feathers. And when he found Freddy, he ran STRAIGHT into him and threw his arms around him in a death hug.

"OH MY GOD. BEST DAY EVER! Oh my god! Its been too long! AAAAAHH~"

"Easy! You're going to do yourself a disservice if you keep squealing like that! You will pull a vocal chord," Freddy chortled.

"Jacob! Enough of this-" Mrs. Wilson barked.

Vanessa waved her off, "He's alright! The bots are used to excited kids. I get wanting to tell him to ease up though-"

Brittany (Gregory just now remembered her name) huffed. "Well, yeah. I need to tell him anyway to not-"

Freddy was seen waving at her next, "I truly do not mind! Its nice seeing someone so eager to see us again. I can keep an eye on him the times you do not?"

"I- are you-" She pointed between them. "You sure?'

"We all are programmed to be excellent guides and caretakers! I personally assure you, it was one of the very first things we were taught as endos- when we didn't have a shell. Erm-" He noticed her confusion, "Think like, 'us as children' in a bot way. First lessons in our lives is just being kindly to youngsters and its super important to us to maintain that. Children is our first priority, and their care is literally all we lived for, beyond entertainment. If you wish, we could watch him for a while with supervision from Luis or Vanessa? If that would make you feel better," He assured. "That way, you can judge if us watching him is suitable."

She flapped her lips helplessly. Likely she wasn't used to the idea of practically handing off her child to an unfamiliar robot whose reputation likely exceeded him. Its not like the PizzaPlex ever had a decent reputation to begin with. However, seeing as the environment was small enough to easily supervise and there were other adults around, she eventually relented and stared at Jacob.

"You behave yourself and don't shout unless you're in trouble! What did I say about inside voices?" she chastised.

"I know, mom! I know!"

She frowned, then turned her attention back to Vanessa.

Meanwhile, Jacob squealed and said, "I'm sorry. Its just been way too long and OH MY GOD its been way too looong. I still have the Bonnie plush you gave me!" He smiled. He suddenly pulled it out from his coat he hadn't even taken the liberty to take off. "You remember at all?"

Gregory knew Freddy didn't. And if he did, its likely from a recording of Bonnie's own memory of the incident. And its likely because of this, Freddy was seen smiling and ruffling his hair, "Looks like its seen a lot of years of TLC. You may even be holding one of the last official Glamrock Bonnie plushes ever! They've completely discontinued them, you know."

"Really?" He turned the toy over.

"No doubt! I'd keep treasuring that, if I were you! It may truly be one of the last ones out there. A rare treasure that may never be seen again!"

Jacob bobbed like he couldn't fight his excitement, hugging it close to his chest. "I already do! Not like you need to tell me twice!" He suddenly pumped out his fists, "You both were SO COOOOOL saving Brigid and me from that rabbit lady! Just like BAM and ZAAAAAAAAH!"

"Jacob!" Clipped his mother nearby.

"Sorry mom-" He called back to her.

Freddy merely chuckled good-naturedly, pushing the scrawny boy towards Gregory and Cassie's direction. "At any rate, it is good you've come over today! We have been very much looking forward to it," He warmly began. "Why not go settle in until dinner's ready? We also have a lot of things planned to do as a group!"

"I can't wait!" He chirped breathlessly.

Jacob then found Gregory and Cassie; who'd been partially hiding from him and watching him rush around in hushed awe of his vibrating and imposing intensity. He grinned, zipped over at a speed even the Flash could even appreciate and said, "Oh my gah! You guys live in THIS and its so cool! Oh my god, what do you even do around here too? You probably never get bored!"

Gregory was finding it impossible to speak. When was the last time he spoke properly to a peer? Not like they had to do much of it at the park- and in school, he'd been 'advertising' for the bots. No real talking was done on a personal level. Its there Gregory's brain just stopped working. And the park itself had been mostly play and raw energy. For that matter, how the heck can he even start with this guy? He'd been excited when they played at the park before, but this? This was on a whole other level. This was in his own house.

Cassie spoke for him, "Not really! I don't think I can remember being bored."

Jacob vibrated like he wanted to phase out of existence, clutching his plush tightly and protectively, "MAN I'm so jealous! I mean like, I've never actually seen a bot before Bonnie and Freddy? Like, never!" He shrugged. "When that wacky rabbit lady got me and brought me to the PizzaPlex, it was my first and only time there! Never wanted to go back after a point... not after I heard Bonnie vanished? And like, there was people saying rumors about the PizzaPlex being totally unsafe and my parents were all, 'No Jacob! You ain't gonna go anyways!' FREAKIN' BUMMER! Oh well!"

"So you've never seen a bot perform either?" Cassie asked.

"Not-uh! Not at all. That musta been something-" Jacob looked away, likely picturing it. "I passed the stage on my way out of the building, and I thought it looked pretty big! And I was sitting there trying to picture what a show looked like-" He watched Cassie carefully, "Huh. Didn't you say before at the park that your dad worked with them? Like, in passing."

"Did... yeah," She nodded.

Now Jacob was looking around. He blinked. Uh-oh, thought Gregory.

And then he breathed the dreaded question, "Where IS your dad? Isn't he around? In fact... Didn't Bonnie say he kinda adopted you? Where's your mom? Isn't Vanessa your mom? She adopted like mine? She and your dad know each other? Does your dad know you're here? Does-"

Cassie and Gregory had no idea how they can properly answer any of those questions. Both glanced at each other and sorely regretted not covering that in more detail. Moreover, Jacob was asking so many at once that the two recluses couldn't even BEGIN to answer them regardless.

Suddenly, Bonnie appeared right behind Jacob and slapped a paw onto his shoulder, saving Cassie the pain of an explanation (or a lie... seeing as Cassie especially sucked at those and she tended to give away a lie without trying). As if he knew the girl was struggling and might've even timed his arrival for it, he grinned, "Jacob! Nice of ya to show up." He added a wink and casually slipped in, "You didn't come say 'hey'!"

The boy whipped around and wrapped his arms around Bonnie's middle next, looking up at the rabbit like a puppy does its parent. The questions were promptly forgotten. "OH MY GOD I'M SO HAPPY BEING HERE I CAN'T~"

"Easy kiddo! Chillax-" Bonnie fanned out both paws in a manner to suggest lightening up. "I know! We're happy seeing you here too. We don't get the pleasure of company that much, so having you here is a welcome experience! And uh-" He pulled on the kid's coat, "You should take that off. Snow's meltin' and you may catch a cold!"

"Oh yeah! Where can I put it?"

Bonnie gestured to himself; with the kid going on to take it off and handing it to him. The rabbit went on to say, "Now then! why doncha go upstairs and hang out with Cass and Greg? And please, they're uncomfortable talking about family-" He wisely went on to say. "Its kinda a sensitive topic for them, yunno? Lots of personal baggage there. Surely you get it?"

"Ohhhh... yeah. I'm sorry!" He quickly went on to say to both the rabbit and them. He even dipped his head towards Cassie and Gregory. "My momma tells me I need to be more mindful of those questions. So, again, real sorry!"

"Its okay," Cassie smiled, passing Bonnie a thankful glance.

"And Greg! Its your lucky day-" Bonnie's smile was especially vibrant here, turning towards the stoically silent boy. "For this day, you're ungrounded! So take the chance to get on the computer and do whatever with your friend here! Go on, go have fun!"

"Seriously?" Gregory blinked.

"Vanessa allowed it! But keep in mind, kiddo-" He waved a warning talon, "Its just for today. If you behave though, you may stay ungrounded! Keep that in mind."

Jacob was sniggering and turning towards Gregory, "Whatcha even DO, man? Like, you can invite a friend over, but not play on the computer? Weird way of being grounded!"

Gregory almost rolled his eyes, but kindly didn't. He refrained from performing any rude gestures as was innate to him. Vanessa had to talk to him this morning about it as it is.

Bonnie put the coat over his shoulder, his expression hardening briefly as he said, "Ya'll behave yourselves now. And Jacob, if you go outside, we have a spare coat or two you can borrow until this one's dry. Also, for the love of god, stay in the yard." His talon whooshed as he gestured at them. "I mean it. Don't leave the area. Take one of us out there with you if you needta. Am I clear on that?"

"Got it," Cassie and Gregory reciprocated easily, knowing exactly what he was hinting. Jacob meanwhile looked confused, but he too nodded. Gregory didn't miss the curious brow raise he added in.

"Good! Go have fun you three. And we'll be partying it up shortly! So make sure you ain't doin' any snackin'," He told them over his shoulder; leaving with the kid's jacket to take it to the washroom.

"...He sounds like your actual dad," Jacob dead-panned as soon as he turned his back. "If I didn't already know I was talking to the robot that also saved my life, I woulda thought I was actually speaking to a parent! Also-" His dark brows and chocolate skin knotted. "He feels kinda funny?"

"...Funny how," Gregory immediately asked, tone deliberately clear of inflection.

Jacob shrugged. "I dunno! Just, funny? Not 'ha-'ha- funny but like- Er, nevermind," he waved it off.

Did he just notice that Bonnie's odd NOW? Gregory wondered, feeling his mouth slip open and closed uneasily. Did he not notice at the park?

Cassie blinked rapidly and gulped. Jacob thankfully didn't notice as she said uneasily, "I-It feels like it, yeah. He's just worried though and its just... showing. There was a... stray dog. Around here... that attacked us last week? Someone's pet got loose and lunged, and it never got caught. So, he's feeling a little paranoid, yunno?" She passed Gregory a meaningful glance, the boy nodding in agreement.

"Ohhhh... okay. Okay. That kinda makes sense," Jacob agreed easily. The darker-skinned boy grinned at them, "So, what kinda games do you got on your computer?"

Gregory felt a bit more confident there, gesturing for him to follow. "I got a couple controllers we can plug in. We can do a multiplayer game?"

"Wicked," Jacob smirked.

Just as they turned to leave- Jacob tripped again.

Gregory and Cassie had stepped over Monty unconsciously; muscle memory at this point. Poor Jacob meanwhile nearly scrapped his hands when he landed on the floor. He "Oof'd!" and looked, then grinned at the sight of the gator.

"Hiya again!" He said to the reptile.

Monty grinned back at him, "That'd be TWICE that happened now. Guess you're used to just droppin' in already?"

"Oh my god puns. YES!" He blithely returned. He pumped his fists excitedly, smirking like a moron despite the crude joke. "You always just lay in the floor though? Is that even comfortable?"

"Its good for my back. Actual furniture doesn't agree with me," Monty admitted. He jerked a thumb at the couch, "I tear that thing up every time I even graze it. Nah, the floor's actually not bad. And I can lay in a way that ain't uncomfy for my tail."

Jacob looked him up and down, nodded, and said, "M'sorry for trippin' on ya! I don't mean to-"

"Don't sweat it, kid. I needta move anyways," Monty sat up. "I shoulda moved before you nearly broke yer dang wrists! I'm the one that's sorry. I'll stay outta yer way. Also-" He raised an especially bright smirk there, "I heard ya say somethin' about never seeing a bot perform! Why doncha ask for a song from Bonnie?"

What are you doing.

Gregory narrowed his eyes at the gator, him and Cassie both shaking their heads.

"Really? I thought Bonnie was retired-?" Jacob said.

"He is... but, he likes ya," Monty put his arm around his shoulders and gesticulated, "I'd say, yer missin' out! Go on and ask him later! I can't imagine he'd say no!"

Jacob looked briefly skeptical but it didn't stay that way. He nodded rapidly, "Okey-dokey! Anyways, come on Greg! Show me your games-" He rushed by them and waited by the stairs.

Gregory turned to level Monty a glare. "Dude. Bonnie's totally gonna have your head at this rate," he hissed.

"He can try," The gator chuckled without any shame. "He shouldna quit like a wuss."

The boy never understood that. Why are they trying to one up each other? To bother each other like this? The graffiti was bad enough! Bonnie will likely find a way to mess with the gator back, but that remained to be seen when and how.

For the moment, he and Cassie just focused on leading Jacob to their rooms; spending the next while actually enjoying themselves with him.

---

GLAMROCK FREDDY

He couldn't help it. He was nosy.

He was having Bonnie listen from the bottom floor; watching the rabbit's face as he listened to the children above play some sort of loud spaceship game. At length, Bonnie confirmed that Jacob had finally settled down and seemed to be enjoying himself. Freddy eagerly waggled his fists in an excited tizzy and couldn't help that dopey smirk.

"It's good they're finally hanging out with someone! I do not think I've ever seen them with-" He blinked and paused; mouth wide open while he searched his mind for any sort of relative memory. None came. "Well, it's good to see they're being more social, at least. I was worried Gregory would lose his temper there!"

"I admit, I thought he was gonna punch Jacob in the face," Bonnie shrugged. "They played fine at the park... but its always so hard to tell what's going on in that kid's head. Gregory's always gonna be a bit odd... medicated or not."

Freddy twiddled his claws. There was a sigh. "He's apparently been through a few therapists before his night at the PizzaPlex. And Miss Howler is his second one since we started living here."

Bonnie blinked. Apparently he hadn't known that despite all his time living here. "Wha- what happened to the other one?"

"She wasn't... er, how'd he put it-" Freddy frowned. "-'She was crampin' my style', quote end-quote. He apparently has a rough history with some of them. He was adverse to getting anymore after a point... and Vanessa and I had to sit down with him for a while to encourage him to try again and actually stay on with one. This was before you were rescued at the PizzaPlex."

"Jeez. So, how many has he had up until Miss Howler?"

"...Hm. He never specified any given number but... given from what I can glean from context clues-" Freddy put a talon to his lower lip. "Erm... four. Four at least."

"FOUR?" Bonnie's slack-jawed expression could've been laugh-worthy, given the topic hadn't been a sensitive one.

"...That I know of," Freddy slowly added.

"-'That you'- oh my god!" Bonnie face-palmed. "How am I just learning this now?"

Freddy looked repentant, "I apologize! I figured you knew that?"

"No! Man, that kid's something else-" He dragged nervous talons through his hair. "He- I swear he's a got a mean-streak in him. He honestly worries me! If it wasn't for you, I wager Vanessa wouldn't even be sane herself! She's never had much patience for some kids..." He hung his head, "I'll never forget catching him at that fight. If I hadn't walked up, Freddy, I could swear he was gonna gouge out Marvin's eyes. I'm not kidding- his fingers were like, resting on the sides of Marvin's head and the way he-"

He cut off when he caught Freddy's hollowed look.

"...I'm gonna guess he didn't tell you that part, did he?" Bonnie asked.

"NO!" The bear rapidly shook his head. "Biscuits! I mean- I cannot- I do not understand. He was doing so well!"

Bonnie shook his head, "He admitted to the councilor that he skipped a dose of his meds that day. You were unconscious, and all he was concerned about was you. And Marvin chose the wrong day to pick a fight."

"STILL. That's no reason to- Oh jumping June bugs-" Freddy rasped. "I did not think he was so quick to shoot for the- I thought he was doing better!"

The rabbit shrugged helplessly, "I can't help thinking that Gregory, medicated or not, is never gonna be a proper kid deep down. I think he's... mentally speaking, a little too past that point in his head space to figure himself a child despite the fact he's still one. And every time he's been hurt-" He frowned especially deeply here, "He goes straight for the vitals, to end any quarrel as quick as he can. Doesn't want any of it. I suppose therein it doesn't help that he's never lived like a normal kid for quite a while before this place."

Freddy looked away, remembering the nights they spent privately talking before having to go rescue Cassie and the other bots from the ruined PizzaPlex. "I've had... I admit, I had to talk to them a few times and emphasize patience with each other. Gregory and Vanessa are both stubborn, hard-headed, and independent in their own way. Naturally, two strong personalities will sometimes clash-" He shrugged helplessly. "They argued a few times quite badly. Its nice that it has not happened in a while and that Gregory seems to finally accept Vanessa as his mother. He avoided the use of that word for the first while we lived together. He hadn't called her 'mom' until we started living together after escaping the PizzaPlex."

Bonnie raised a brow, ears crooked above his mussed scalp.

Freddy settled down on the floor, the bots having taken to sitting in the washroom branching from the garage. Bonnie crossed his legs beside him, eyeing him with an avid interest. He was still keeping an ear on the kids above them, but he was clearly focused on the ursine.

"As it were, I believe you are correct: I think there's always going to be a part of Gregory that is a little-" He waggled a paw in a side-to-side motion. "-Off, even with medicine. His exposure to the perils of the PizzaPlex were... I know he's come to accept them, but they've certainly left a mark on him- a particularly deep one, beyond his actual knife wound. And no, I do not mean his night he was locked up in the PizzaPlex with me-" He passed Bonnie a meaningful expression, "I am referring to the time he lost his parents. His real ones. He very rarely talks of them... you kind of have to goad it out of him."

His best friend bobbled his head, his expression pensive, "Yeah... I think, literally the LAST time he's spoken of them was when Cassie first moved in here a couple years ago? He told her about his background and... he said nothing in detail beyond a point. And he's literally never said anything else in reference to them again! I can't help but wonder about that... and if more of his stunted emotions are more in-line with that than anyone else thinks? Kinda sounds like a big 'duh' when I word it like that..."

Freddy didn't know why, but he had a nasty feeling that there was more to it than whatever little was offered. Still, it wasn't like he could just casually mention it; even though he knew Gregory would be far more accepting if Freddy asked and not anyone else. The topic of Gregory's family seemed to make the child clam up; and he refused any mention of them even though its not like he's had a bad relationship with them. After all, Greg's parents took him to the PizzaPlex for his birthday and ordered him Freddy personally. And while Freddy did not remember that day (likely had his memory edited by Vanny or Mr. Cromwell), that alone said that his parents CARED. Right?

Freddy balled both paws together; resting his chin on them and on his propped up knees. He focused on a space beyond him, trying to best measure what else he knew of the child. He loved Gregory to death; and he knew the kid cared too. In fact, Gregory had risked his life for himself at some point; venturing into the endo warehouse alone despite Vanny running loose and the army of unstable bots within just to get Freddy some help. Gregory had the capacity to care and love with such an intensity, one cannot help but be moved by it. However, the cost of that love was too great a price for others to pay. Bonnie wasn't wrong when he said he was a bit wild and quick to the trigger in order to protect it.

He has lied to you before about your own friends, said a nasty voice in his head. Lied about them, omitted their pain, dismantled them in brutal ways- You've asked him to not hurt them, but he ignored you. Proceeded to rig you with their stolen parts. It is no wonder they thought you abandoned them. He cared only about YOU at their expense. Is that love worth it?

No. He had not known they were kind. He thought they were cruel to him out of their own volition! Not because they were hacked... he had not known that.

...But what if he did? You can't dis-prove that he didn't already known they were victims, and he's just willing to trod on them. He's more than willing to go to any lengths for the things he wants. You. Know. That.

Freddy felt his ears sag, not noticing Bonnie's eyes still on him. The bear placed his forehead against his balled paws; trying to stop the slithering whisper of his own mind caressing his inner ear.

And even if he hadn't known they were hacked, explain their pain, then. Explain how and why he ignored your pleas to not harm them: Chica and Monty never really left the PizzaPlex, did they? They DIED in there- and it was there that they stayed in the end. Admit it, continued the oily, nasty voice. Their bodies, their original selves stayed in a room you chose as their CRYPT. You and Vanessa had to assemble newer versions of them. Scrap the old, and recycle outdated data for their personalities even after the harm he's caused. Monty became a feral husk that couldn't even recall his own name. And Chica-

"Freddy?"

-She rotted away. She became one of the living dead. She wept within the confines of her own body; unable to scream and cry out at how much pain she was truly in. You heard it that night, had you not? She ate herself into a zombified state; unable to react to anything that isn't food. She begged for help, and it came FAR too late for her. She'd thought you left her in darkness for that boy for months. She was left to wallow in that thought for that long; her ORIGINAL self thought all her friends left her- and you know that was one of the last things she died lingering on.

You might as well killed her yourself.

"Freddy!"

...Even Bonnie thought you betrayed them. Even your best friend had beseeched you to save them; it was one of his last words to you- and you don't even remember that because you let others willingly control you. You let yourself by pulled around by someone else's will. Be it Gregory, or your own technicians taking you to memory reprisal and editing. You are a tool. You aren't anything without someone else's input.

You aren't anything but a thing to be guided around. You don't even know if Gregory's controlling your flow of information right now.

"DUDE!"

He felt Bonnie's paw on his shoulder, the rabbit's grip absurdly strong and... painfully tight. His talons didn't rip into fur, but they were close. He was violently trying to shake him, the pressure applied enough to make his chassis nearly groan as hinges and edges kissed beneath his pelt.

Freddy blinked, turning slowly to eye the rabbit and said, "Wha- yes? What is it?"

Bonnie coughed, then reached out a paw and traced it along his nose and pulled it back. Freddy sniffed at the brief remembrance of his over-powered olfactory sensors; startled when he caught the thick and heady aroma of blood. Suddenly, he started tasting it too; bubbling up in his mouth like a free-flowing gutter pouring rain water during a storm. The sudden surge of it was so shocking that Freddy inwardly panicked there; slapping a paw to his hanging jaw and clamping shut when he realized he'd been gawping like an idiot at his own thoughts for the last while. He could feel the liquid in his mouth; pooling and bubbling up from some unknown point in his body.

Where is it all coming from-?!

"Dude- you needta- good thing we're right next to the garage!" Bonnie rose, helping Freddy to his feet too. "I'll clean you up. Easy, big boy."

"I- I did not notice..." Freddy garbled wetly, his paw still over his mouth. He cut himself off when a noticeable and sizeable drip hit the cold cement foundation of the house from his attempt to speak; he was leaving trails. He must've looked quite a sight with there being a literal puddle of it in his mandible. He expected to a stranger, it looked like he bit someone's head off.

Bonnie nudged him gently to the armature's chair and pulled out the 13 gallon trash can nearby; left in here for just an occasion. Freddy dripped over it like he was vomiting; disturbing as that was while the rabbit went to fetch bottled water and towels. He didn't want to bring the bear out to the bathroom nearby; as it'd put him near the sight of the Wilsons. They did not need to see this right now.

Bonnie returned in short order with a couple water bottles and paper towels; letting Freddy wash the coppery mess out of his jaws. He snorted it out too; blood flecking in the trash can and... disturbingly onto it. Bonnie wiped that off when he could, one paw on the bear's spine as he leaned forward in his seat. He patted him, sitting on the arm of the chair and watching him carefully.

M.X.E.S flickered on nearby, "Episode documented. A most curious development, users Frederick and Bonnie. What has taken place to have caused this in user Frederick?"

For research purposes, M.X.E.S recorded dates and times there was anything weird like this going on. No doubt he was recording them too.

"Be specific," Bonnie told him seriously. "You were thinking about something distressing, weren't you? Gregory, right? Some sorta emotional trigger?"

Freddy gave a dull blink, suddenly feeling like his nose was actually stuffed up (even though it is, technically). He snorted again, parsed his thoughts, and ran the water bottle's contents across his jaws and over the can. He was making a tiny bit of a mess, but Bonnie continued to put towels down wherever he thought was necessary. Both rabbits would have to wait until Freddy was sure he wasn't producing anymore of the stuff before he can finally talk.

"...Gregory's actions," He admitted with a immense hesitation. "The things he's done in the past at the PizzaPlex. They, I thought I've moved past them. But sometimes, I cannot help but wonder about them and if maybe I had not, deep down. It's never left my mind what we had to do to bring back Chica and Monty-" He paused there, his tone low and secretive; as if afraid Gregory would hear it. His timbre took on a breathless and anxious quality, "I've never... I do not think I could ever get over the fact they- that I had to- that I had to bury them in the parts and service rooms..."

Bonnie frowned here, the pelt on his face bunching realistically with the motion of his flexing brows. His ears lowered as well, eyes a distant and opaque quality. There was something soulful about it that almost seem to polish his optics with a wet sheen.

"I... Bonnie, they've died in there and never really left," He hoarsely said. "And while what happened to them was not strictly because of the boy- their downfall was still heralded ever faster by his actions! I've even talked to Eclipse about this at some point, while we were still in there? And I thought with time, I could learn to accept what happened. Its been two years. But... I just do not think I've ever moved on from that. And upon realizing this-" He pulled a paper towel away from his nose and mouth. It was absolutely saturated. "-I think... I think this is when it started happening." His baritone was weak with the semblance of tears that will not come as he also added in an undertone, "-Because its never left my mind. Not truly."

He felt the rabbit bump his side with his own head; the token of endearment appreciated in that moment. One of Bonnie's paws also rested on his arm, as if to help steady it.

Freddy threw all the morbidly soaked towels away and spat up some water-diffused blood into the bin. Then, he took the next bottle and simply (and disgustingly) washed it down. It'd store in his artificial gut; decomposing in a tightly sealed container until it came time to clean it out again. Again, all very disgusting, but he felt bad about what was in front of him and didn't wish to look at more.

Talk about literally choking it down.

Freddy sighed shakily, once again arrested onto the idea of Gregory being what he is. He eventually asked, "Is he still playing?" Not losing his temper?

"Yeah. He and Jacob goin' at it in the space game," He huffed gently; his breath a soft tickle across his chest and neck. His ears flexed pointedly, as if to show that.

"...And Cass?"

"Seems to be watching. She's enjoying herself too, but the sounds of it," he shrugged.

Freddy sat there and continued picking himself clean, jumping a bit when the door opened up and Roxy peered in. The wolf was sniffing curiously; her nose flexing with the motion and creeping in fully. She shut the door behind her, but kept a paw on it as she eyes them.

"Wha- what happened? Freddy, you're a mess!"

"...I need to take the fur off, huh?"

"Oh my- are you OKAY? You looked like you committed a murder!" She hadn't bothered answering his somewhat rhetorical question. She moved away from the door and stopped in front of him, grazing jade painted talons across his bronzed jaw where the stains rested.

"I'm not making any more of it, if that is what you're asking," he returned rather calmly.

Roxy stared at him with an flicker of annoyance coloring her concern, "Don't get cute with me! Bonnie does that enough-" Bonnie flicked an ear at her there but she pretended to not see it. "-How do you feel otherwise? Don't hide it!"

Freddy's ability to conjure a proper response failed; the ursine finding it extraordinarily difficult to muster even a half-baked affirmation in its stead. He merely submissively kept his eyes down; unable to hold Roxy's smoldering set for any proper length of time. She admittedly had an intimidating and interesting set of eyes, he had to admit. But still, the only words he can really say right now was-

Well, if he had to say it, his mind said, Totally defeated. Meanwhile, his mouth was moving treacherously, "Better than I did. I happened to linger too long on a certain topic and it upsetted me. I am feeling a bit more improved now, I assure you."

He can tell without looking that she didn't believe him. "You feel shitty, I can see that. Also, I can see that you didn't get it all-" She jabbed a talon at his breast. "I wager the humans would even be able to smell it, let alone see this. Take off your fur and give it to me. I'll take of it while Bonnie gets you cleaned up. I'll tell Vanessa to keep the Wilsons' distracted while you make it to the bathroom. Alright?"

"Yes ma'am," he breathed.

"M'kay. Okay," She reached up, helping him with the head piece. "Hold still, Drippy. I got this bit."

"...'Drippy'?"

"You're still kinda dripping."

Freddy frowned at her and swiped a paw across his jaw again; pulling away a modicum of fluid. It wasn't much, and it looked like it wouldn't be noticeable before long. He worked his jaws a few times, tasting some lingering traces of it. He never understood where it was all coming from and HOW their bodies do that. There had to be a logical explanation for it somewhere, but no one's ever been able to properly discern its cause- not even M.X.E.S could with the repetitive amounts of scanning he did can find it. The only thing certain about its start was the fact strong surges of emotion triggered it.

Freddy felt self-conscious as he stood up to take off his heavy pelt. The thing itself weighed about as much as a bear's actual skin; roughly around 100 pounds of fur and solid stitching. Artificial skin or not, the weight was utterly ridiculous to any humans trying to hull it around. The day Luis brought it home, he'd been red-faced and puffing. It's too expensive and too rare to be replacing either; so it had to get cleaned now.

Bonnie would sit him back down after Roxanne took the fuzz; tucking it under her arm and watching him briefly like she wanted to say something else. Whatever that was, it didn't come. She only shook her head and proceeded to leave. "I'll tell them to keep clear of the garage," she only said over her shoulder as she went.

Once she was gone, Freddy would continue to wipe up his face and mouth until it wasn't so bad or noticeable anymore. The roll of paper towels was gone by now; and Bonnie was seen tying up the tiny 13 gallon bin and throwing it over his shoulder. "I'll take these out. You go wash in the bathroom. I don't see anymore of it on your chassis, so you shouldn't alarm anybody with it."

"Thank you, Bonnie. And-" He briefly stopped him again as the rabbit turned to take the bag outside. "You uh... I know the answer to this but... you don't hold anything against me, do you not?"

He blinked several times as a reaction. Then that same doleful look took his countenance by storm. Ears lowered and optics slanting in clear sadness, Bonnie seemed to already understand what it is that Freddy was truly asking. He shook his head very slowly and methodically; as if to physically concrete he had no ill feelings to even direct.

He also verbally affirmed, "Why would I ever hold anything against you? I- were you thinking about-" He flicked a claw between them. "That time when I... when I yelled at you. When I said that I was hurt by you not protecting our friends?"

Freddy shamefully glanced away.

"I- Fredster-" He lowered the bag again and walked back over. He forcefully got a hold of the bear's slightly warmed shell and pulled his head in; foreheads touching again and holding it there. "I was being stupid at the time! That wasn't anything on you! Geez man, geez. You're like half of my soul. I'd never woulda- I'm sorry. You know I don't feel that way!"

"I-I know..."

"No you don't, apparently. God damn! What's with the sudden backtrack? Talk to me, man. How'd this go from Gregory to- to that?"

Freddy said nothing, only sighed there. It'd take Bonnie a moment of reflection to realize what and how those thoughts connected; the rabbit intelligent enough to connect the dots. His paw rubbed gently; a gesture meant to alleviate any pain.

"You know... I won't lie, I think about it too sometimes. And I know Chica does-" Bonnie went on to say. "But we all also know its not like it Gregory's fault. Vanny withstanding, there was a lot of factors that lead us to that horrible ending. She and Gregory kinda just... hastened it, I won't lie, but it wasn't all their own faults either. I wouldn't hold that against the boy-" He shook his head against him. "Our lives were stressful. We had entirely too much to shoulder and... well, I know myself to know that I probably woulda ended up like Foxy regardless of Vanny's pushing. You know? So, while Gregory's a little... yunno, you and I both know it wasn't his fault either!"

"But I don't think," Freddy pragmatically said. "Its just... he's so quick to hurt someone... And, there was more to it. I do not know if I do enough for him to help-"

"Freddy, you do more than anyone ever should ever ask. And I wager Gregory is more appreciative of that than anyone else," Bonnie assured. "If you weren't such an upright dude, he'd probably be on a crime spree right now in the streets; still an orphan might I add. He's a work-in-progress, but he's definitely better than he was. Even he knows that, and I bet he appreciates you never giving up on him. Why not talk to him about it when you can, hm?"

"I... yes. You are right, of course."

"Aren't I always?"

Freddy nodded lightly.

"Don't be dodging around it now," Bonnie chastised. "Sounds to me like you've been holding in way too many thoughts lately- and you'd been holding this for two straight dang years! We talked a week ago about not having secrets, last I recalled."

"Yes. You are... also right," Freddy admitted.

"Figured! So, didn't we agree about seeing some help together? Or talking more?"

"...Dangit Bonnie. How are you being the reasonable right now when it used to be the other way around?"

The rabbit passed a light and fleeting chortle there; his paw still resting easily on Freddy's head and rubbing it affectionately. "I had you to straighten me out, that's why. And hey, we all have our moments, do we not?"

"I guess I was having said 'moment'... Please forgive me."

"Nuthin' to forgive, love. Nuthin' to forgive," He assured with bedrock-hardened certainty. He touched his nose to Freddy's own in a slight boop and then pulled away. "I'm gonna take this bag out and clean up in here. You just take care of you for once, okay? It sounds like you never actually get the chance to do that even with the way we live now. You know no one here's thinking its your fault or the kid's- cuz believe me, it isn't."

Freddy flapped his jaw once but did nothing else.

"I love you," Bonnie told him easily as he walked out.

"I love you too," the bear returned, sighing in his wake.

He'd head to the bathroom after that; being careful to avoid the Wilsons' as they sat with Vanessa on the couch. Luis was sitting in the arm chair nearby, showing them something on his tablet. John was seen nodding and smiling with intrigue.

Upon glimpsing Freddy though, Luis frowned and made a shrugging motion. Apparently he knew about the issue; and likely caught a change in Freddy's bodily functions on his tablet. John noticed his attention and turned, and Freddy jolted when they too caught each other's eyes. He didn't panic though, so it looks like all the blood had been removed and he suspected nothing. Likely he was confused why Freddy had shed his pelt in favor of his Glamrock chassis.

Freddy waved at Luis like 'later' and proceeded to shuffle out before he was caught out by anyone else. He made it to the bathroom nearby; cleaning up and running water through his stomach hatch and lamenting he may require a deep-clean himself. He wasn't going to do that today however; not with guests over and a party to celebrate.

Still, he couldn't help but wonder why he went all the way back to that moment inside the PizzaPlex; having earnestly believed that he had moved on from it. But the mention of Gregory's willingness towards violence and the fact he's never forgotten actually laying his friends' bodies to rest in a sealed off room like some sort of make-shift funeral minus all the pomp that goes into it felt like he never got closure somewhere. Not really. Along the way, he felt like he failed or was never good enough. He'd put so much work into Gregory and tried putting the worst of his memories behind- but it still snuck up on him.

Freddy finished washing himself off in the shower (he'd run it gently and did his best to not get anything particularly sensitive too wet). He'd step out, gladdened he hadn't scratched the tub's basin this time and toweled himself off both inside and out. His chassis was in need of a serious buff, but he hadn't bothered to do so in recent times thanks to the fact he'd been wearing his skin over it. He was dull and in need of a new paint job, but not dirty at least.

His expression when he caught it in the mirror took him off guard. The drawn quality of it wasn't anything like he's used to seeing. He couldn't stop the lower part of his optics' lids from their ascension; further indicating his sadness. His ears also felt strangely heavy; like gravity was having its way with him and winning.

A thought came to him then: What if it was his remnant that was making him feel especially horrible about it right now? Bonnie said once that remnant had a tendency to 'exacerbate' certain inflections and put a certain emphasis on emotional pain in particular. It 'colored' his world view in a plethora of striking and alarming ways; and there was no doubt it was having SOME kind of hold of him now.

But even if this was true, these feelings of his were ALL his own. Remnant only served to make them feel more poignant. He supposed therein he's always felt this worried about Gregory and himself; he just never chose to think about it. Freddy was guilty of neglecting these negative thoughts and bottling them up. He's never properly faced them in a healthy manner before; ever. And the last time these were addressed was when he talked to Eclipse a long time ago; two years to be exact. he'd been doing his best to keep these treacherous thoughts buried after a point. He'd been so focused on helping his friends adapt to a new world and fixing them, that he's never had time for himself for some 'self love', as Bonnie would put it.

I need help. I do not know if this therapy idea will be enough but mayhaps it'll be a start in the right direction, he pondered. I need more than time, apparently.

He leaned against the counter, keeping to himself until he was sure he could look another person in the eye again.

---

POLAR FREDDY

These people... all living like this.

Fascinating.

He'd been watching them this whole time. Ever since he took Foxy to be repaired and came back out here alone, he'd been scoping out the neighborhood and using Fazbear Entertainment's system to find Vanessa's current whereabouts. Her being a homeowner put her on the map in a few ways that made finding her rather easy. And upon discovering her residence, he'd been watching them from a distance. He had to stay away and within reason, stay buried in the snow. He also did not move for LONG periods of time; long enough for the occasional cardinal to find roost on the top of his head or shoulder or a rabbit to hop by and not find alarm in him. A stray cat even passed him once, but it kept a wide berth and hissed once it sensed the remnant in him. In this manner, Freddy had been quieter than a church mouse; so Bonnie hadn't been able to hear him. And Roxy? He's been careful to not go too near the house. He didn't need Bonnie or Roxy finding him.

He was alone for right now, even though its likely his vulpine companion was supposed to be done by now. Foxy was likely getting chastised and 'politely' reprogrammed to account for his aggression. It will not last; that Foxy model was just as intelligent in terms of resourcefulness as Glamrock Bonnie- perhaps more so. He'll likely reset his buggy behavior out of SPITE.

The polar bot wouldn't be alone for much longer; as he heard back from Mr. Morris that Foxy was due to be released today, in fact. He would have to stop by the main building and pick him up so they can continue reconnaissance together after he was done here. He was just waiting for a moment for Bonnie and/or Roxy to shut down for the evening for a nap or get distracted with something else in town so he can leave. He didn't want to move where she can visually catch him and the rabbit can hear his servos working.

Bonnie slipped outside in the meantime; speaking of which. He was holding- oh. Polar Freddy sniffed, being sure not to move ANY part of his body that involved servos. Servos whined; and therefore, would give him away to the rabbit. He was able to move in and out of range the times Bonnie napped; and he was thankful that Bonnie napped frequently. He was apparently of a lazier nature than figured; that or his remnant gave him the organic impression of exhaustion and it tricked his programming into believing it was time for rest mode more often. But it is because Bonnie sleeps so often that Polar Freddy can move at all without fear of being heard.

As to the bag in his paws; Polar Freddy can smell the blood from it. He sniffed Bonnie too, discreetly; noticing traces of the fluid on him too but it wasn't strong. Curious. Did that come from someone else?

Perhaps that other Freddy, he figured. He smelled different the last time we met... he was actualized. He had not been that way when we first met at the depot. He's changed now, has he not?

His cerulean optics eyed the rabbit as he pulled the garbage can open and lazily put the bag in there. He even gave a beleaguered sigh; stopping to roll his head on his neck and move some wires that likely shifted. Ears flexed however; and Polar Freddy knew that Bonnie had been secretly listening to the environment ever since Foxy's... er, bold, attack on them. The stone colored lagomorph turned around; maroon optics scanning carefully and landing on the tree-line around and behind the house. He didn't know it, but he passed right over Polar Freddy's location. And with the way his expression looked, it was more like a deer scanning for danger and less like a rabbit; especially with the way he held his ears and his reasonably decently long, triangular tail flickered.

The white bear thanked his snowy blanket and his lying position. He was on his belly and resting his head on his paws. Sometimes, he'd shift position when he was sure the rabbit couldn't hear it. He'd fix himself into a sitting position and pulled both snow and brush over himself; having rolled around in various and interesting spots across the terrain to make sure his neutral aroma stayed that way; neutral. He didn't have a distinct smell by himself; he wasn't meant to have one.

Meanwhile, Bonnie smelled strongly of blueberries, blood, and trace amounts of carrot and the girl he's been hugging on: Cassie, Polar Freddy recalled. And even then, Cassie's scent had its own identity; he found traces of grapes and coconut. Chocolate was rarer but can also be found on her. So in essence, very small amounts of these smells would collide and cloud Bonnie's smell. He hugged the girl a lot, or laid on the bed with her to talk for long periods of time. He and the wolf were extremely physically affectionate to her as well; and it showed when Roxy too walked around with more of the girl's scent on her grape-scented hide and chassis. Cassie's hands were scented in Roxy's mane and tail too; having been combing a brush through them or styling it for fun.

He only knew from observation, but he'd been able to see the girl Bonnie called his own; as well as see this boy that lived with them. These kids were an interesting pair; and Polar Freddy had to admit that watching them work was fascinating. They knew how to repair bots and program them. And, they showed genuine compassion for the bots they lived with. They talked to the bots, asked them what they want for their programming and didn't do anything illicit without consensus, and they did things together as would any organic family.

How'd he know this? Well, he had a set of eyes like Roxy's: The optics were simply colored blue to look more Freddy-like. He had this special set given to him before he left headquarters. So he was able to see the bots and humans in the house right now; counting all the individuals he saw and the goings-on inside the residence. He'd seen Cassie stick to Bonnie yesterday; especially keen on making him feel better and going through the pains of cleaning him up and loving on him when he'd been working in that room by himself. He'd seen them hang out together, eat, and goad the Chica model he saw (and a very beautiful model may he add! Quite elegant, dare he say) into walking with them. They stayed gone for a few hours, then came back with food and sat for a movie like a true family.

That was... different.

Polar Freddy wasn't sure why, but the sight of it filled him with something alien and new. He hadn't been able to identify what this new feeling was yet, not until he sat on it for a long enough period of time. And, its helped he's been sitting on these thoughts for the past while. He had nothing else to do with himself during his observation of them BUT think and weigh what it is that pained him so:

Envy.

He'd felt a bit envious of the fact these bots were clearly loved and cared for. Envious of the fact THIS Bonnie had family that didn't threaten his life or punish him for his mistakes. Envy for the fact that, even when deemed dangerous, the family worked to make it right again. When Bonnie lunged at Roxanne the previous day, Polar Freddy watched raptly and couldn't help but record his findings. And even with Bonnie experiencing a full-blown possession and has clearly turned into a maddened war machine, they only disabled him and temporarily tied him up. And the fact Bonnie came out of it quicker than expected? He had to admit, Polar Freddy was impressed with the fact this soul in the rabbit's body liked him enough to let his wrath go and let Bonnie resume his life for the time being.

Because if it didn't... he'd still be possessed right now. Bonnie would still be under the thrall of the person inside him; trying to murder whatever stood in his way. The cause of his death was apparently too painful to let go; and by all rights and purposes, the soul should be taking full possession of the body so he can find the one whose killed him and end their life in-turn. Wrath tended to be the strongest form of agony in these remnant-infused machines, and even a sentient robot will lose ownership of its form to its fellow occupant with time.

And yet this did not happen. Not yet anyway.

Those poor fools, he thought. That is only temporary. His emotional trigger will cause another attack before too long. They will need to figure out its exact source in order to avoid it.

He'd seen that other Freddy too; him and Bonnie talking and holding each other. Once again, envy had filled him with a rancid, boiling intensity that made him want to LEAVE his post despite his orders to remain. He wanted to see his own Bonnie and hold him again. To do as these two were doing; to put stickers in coloring books and scribble on the walls! To talk while lying on their backs and watching the skylight in their former home. To talk crudely of the horrible employees that laughed at them behind their backs! To play chase or hide and seek again!

He missed those days. But, his longing for those same days was also what kept him here; watching the family that aggravated him so with the intention to size up the threats involved. He needed data to supply to Mr. Morris; as the man was interested in capturing the children and the adults jointly for different projects. And the bots? All scrap material. Glamrock Bonnie would have quite a lot of his parts used for the reconstruction of his best friend; so his capture was also absolutely mandatory.

If he can just catch the rabbit alone in the streets... just once. He can take Bonnie by himself. The rabbit was tough and built with a plethora of features that made him lethal in his own right, but Bonnie was beatable. Disabling him will be easy, once the polar bot can just- JUST-

Alone. I will get you ALONE, rabbit. Screw up. Screw up just ONCE. ONCE. Screw up. Screw up! Dangit, leave the house already!

His talons scratched the ground and ripped snow and earth; his teeth baring briefly as he fought a snarl. Impatience threatened to devour him, but Polar Freddy was its adverse; he was always waiting. He was the sentinel; he watches and waits. Patience was his weapon and friend.

Bonnie will screw up. He just needed to wait. And he always won those kinds of games.

Back in the present, Polar Freddy frowned as he watched his target twitch his button nose cutely; bouncing across his muzzle as his ears swiveled carefully like radar panels. He still hadn't caught any sign of the bot, but Polar Freddy wondered what was keeping the rabbit outside and not heading back in immediately. Did he sense something? Did instinct compel him to stand vigil in the worsening weather?

He stepped around now; nose still bouncing but useless on him. His ears were still a worrying factor, but Polar Freddy had almost all his functions in his body turned off. The only thing on right now was his head and motor; and even then, the motor barely made any noise. He'd been upgraded to have some sort of padding inside his breast plate to help dampen the noise for just this very mission. It was saving him some trouble right now as Bonnie stepped nearer to the side of the house; his cochineal gaze narrowing but then slanting back to composed. Seems his guard lowered.

The rabbit turned to slip back inside the house, none the wiser to the one who watched him.

Polar Freddy breathed; his breath misting up the atmosphere. He needed to turn back on fully and warm his limbs up; his joints were locking in place from sheer cold. He took the chance to do so since Bonnie was distracted with whatever was happening inside. He switched on his secondary processor, then sat up and disturbed the coat of white around him. Birds above his head twittered once in brief surprise and fluttered away.

He stood up and moved around; though he wouldn't do so for long. He was a sore thumb when he gets to his fullest height; and he knew nobody needed Roxy's eyes to spot him if they really looked. His white, snow-flecked and ice coated fleece did well to insulate him from the cold; so he was able to warm up in short order and lie back down; doing his best to put the snow around him back to straights and flatten it out with gentle paws. He pulled the brush back over himself too; and scrapped up just enough snow to cover the darker regions of his decently white body. He looked like a natural part of the environment; with the exception of his chains he'd sometimes wear.

Speaking of which- he wasn't wearing them right now. He hadn't been for the last few days. They were tucked inside his belly; covered in blankets to muffle their rattling. If he took them out, it was ONLY if he knew Bonnie wasn't around to hear them and if he was headed back to headquarters.

He turned his head back towards the kids on the second level of the building. Playing, and apparently thinking of doing something different. They jumped out just as their names were called for dinner; the polar bot finding the aroma of a feast rather tantalizing even though he had no stomach or taste buds. He wasn't programmed to be organic in any way. But these bots? They lived like people; they ate, tasted, drank- so curious. They WANTED to eat. And to see them join the humans at the table, couch and chair for their plates of food, there was something rather... how can he put this?

Polar Freddy sat and weighed on this feeling a while. He felt a little... removed, in a way that especially hurt right now. He wasn't sure if it was because of his own remnant or the fact he missed his buddy so much, but the sensation of togetherness being reflected in others and not having it for yourself instilled a painfully lonely feeling within him. A nasty, intrusive part of him wondered what it'd be like sitting at the table and singing together with your entire family and best friends. To taste, eat, drink, sing, and to embrace-

Something in his chest burned with an intensity that wanted to compel him to rise and leave now. Watching them was becoming too painful. A forlornness had taken a vicious hold of him; gripping him with with the bitter venom of a snake's bite. His paws balled up, and his teeth flickered briefly into view.

I hate you all so much. And I have no reason to do so beyond petty jealously. But I truly hate you all.

He was fully aware of his own feelings after enough reflection. He was no fool in that facet. He knew he wanted something like that for himself and he wasn't supposed to! He was supposed to like his job as a sentinel. He was the watcher; the one who waits. He was not meant to be a friend; just a protector of secrets. He was company property! Hell, THEY WERE COMPANY PROPERTY. Why are they acting like HUMANS? He was not supposed to yearn for anything except for his Bonnie. What's a Freddy without a Bonnie?

But this-

He watched the adults poor drinks- probably booze or some other alcohol-based beverage. It came from an expensive bottle; wine if he was reading it correctly (it was hard for him to tell from here, even with a Roxy-like set of eyes). Chica was seen serving them a handsome whole ham bone; laden in brown sugar and pineapple slices. She hovered around dipping up the food with a practiced flourish; the bear finding the sight curious when he's caught wind by now that she had a distaste for food as well as a deeply buried love for it. An juxtaposed desire that no doubt befuddled.

Bonnie was standing idly off to the side, waiting on Glamrock Freddy to reappear. The rabbit wasn't kept waiting when the depressed lead singer returned, looking noticeably better than he had a few minutes ago. The two were seen murmuring to each other in hushed tones, eyes completely focused on the other until Chica swept in with two full plates. The smell immediately got a reaction out of them; with the brown bear smiling MUCH more brightly as he inhaled great bouts of ham. No doubt he developed a more carnivorous palette; considering the amount of ham on his platter. Teeth flashed; and he was eating quicker than Bonnie was!

Why do they do that? Polar Freddy wondered. They don't even gain any nutritional value from it... they just store it in their gut to decompose into soil to pour outside in the yard later. Isn't that a waste?

He looked at the garden boxes out in the backyard; the bots' penchant to eat still had SOME benefit, he supposed. So his words were wrong in the facet that the bots eating actually helped their plants grow. Vanessa had been getting some house plants as well as some studier outdoor ones to grow some home-made food. And sometimes, Cassie would be seen out in the yard with Eclipse or Sun for gardening after they emptied their bellies in the beds of their plants. Emptying their composter guts was actually giving them more food in the long run if you consider it. He'd seen Chica snipping the parsley leaves from the house plant near the sink as an example; using it for their dinner a few times. The plant was growing from fertilizer made from the dumped contents of a fake gut. Even the white bear had to admit, maybe the idea of a fake stomach wasn't bad after all; it was ecologically smart and it paid off once they grew some of their own meals from it. He decided he was going to respectfully take back his words about it being useless after a while.

He raised a sleek brow as he watched Bonnie and the temporarily orange Freddy settle on the couch together, the blue bunny shoulder-checking him once in passing. Freddy bumped him back with a gentleness that gave way his appreciation for earlier. When they got passed out some cups of water by Sun, they even clicked their glasses together in- what was it called, a toast? What were they toasting?

Feeling bothered by their clear ease, he looked back towards the others. Monty got an interesting part of the meal... seems like he was living garbage disposal. Vanessa had finished cutting the meat off the ham bone and beckoned the gator over. Suddenly, Monty was up in a flash and rubbing his hands together greedily. Vanessa told him to open up, if the polar bot was reading her lips right (and yes, he can read lips). Monty took the whole bone and CRUNCHED; the sound audible enough to get everyone's attentions. Jacob was heard shouting "COOOOLLLL!" so loudly that even the polar bot caught it from outside. Monty easily made short work of the leftover food, and it seemed he didn't mind the scraps! On the contrary, he relished them.

Vanessa was seen giving him whatever was considered wasted food. Monty simply ate it! The polar bot noticed Chica flinch though; odd. Was she recalling an unpleasant memory? She was watching Monty like he terrified her for a moment there; the hen's lavender optics unable to break away from Monty's busy hydraulic jaws.

Right. She has this fear of... a garbage disposal unit. How strange, the polar bot wondered. Did the sound bring her back to that moment?

She was seen moving uneasily away from him, bumping once into Sun and warranting a gentle pat on her shoulders from the former daycare attendant. They sat and chatted amicably, no doubt the skinnier bot was trying to cheer her up. DJ even joined them at length, signing eagerly and smiling with a cautious glib that betrayed he was finding this new world that's opened up before him interesting and fun. He had food too, and was quickly learning he loved it just as well! He was forking down ham too and smiling so brightly that it was contagious. Polar Freddy had to admit, he could imagine in another life, he'd like DJ too. He seemed an upright fellow.

Roxy was seen eating with Cassie next, the girl looking up at the wolf like she did Vanessa; like a parent. The white bear figured she secretly saw Roxanne as her other-mother. Roxy was seen grabbing Cassie's face and gently and playfully shaking it; touching her forehead like she did with the other bots in a show of familial affection. There was words exchanged, but Polar Freddy wasn't as good as reading the words on the mouths of the bots. He can guess there was more 'I love yous' or something thereabouts; because Cassie's expression said enough.

Roxy, being a wolf bot, had been programmed with an interesting array of traits. He knew from recorded behaviors that she-wolves generally loved pups or younger whelps. And seeing as she was supposed to be a role model for the children, something maternal may be mixed into her to make her so affectionate. He also assumed that there was also a remnant-infused piece of metal in her breast or motor, he figured. She definitely had remnant in her SOMEWHERE, but it would be very trace- not detectable unless a Tracer (a rod meant to find remnant) was applied to her.

She was also quick to body touches; as was typical of canids. She brushed her sides and waist with the other bots sometimes; not even noticing she was doing it. She head-butted them under their chins, and sweep a tail around others. She was, with time, a very physically affectionate bot. This apparently surprised some of her fellows, but they soaked in the affection the times she gave it. She wasn't a word-smith; even Polar Freddy saw that first-hand throughout his days watching them. She stuck to touches to communicate what her words could not. She also made contact simply by grooming or prepping the others for their day; as if looking for a reason to touch them. She dressed them, did their make-up and prepped them up with confident and toothy smirks and light brushes of her paws.

It was cute, he had to admit. He quite liked watching her and he was embarrassed to admit that she was appealing to observe. Roxy was designed very well; and that couldn't be more evident when she moved with a grace he didn't see in some of the other bots. Even her makers had wanted to put some heart into their work there. As a bot whose seen many others in the depot throughout his years, Polar Freddy knew quality work when he saw it. This Roxy was not only beautiful and perfected as a model, but a PROTOTYPE Roxanne. She was VERY special. She likely didn't know that though.

Back in the present, he watched Roxy keep her forehead touch with Cassie and murmur to her more. Her tail was seen waggling at the tip; like she was trying to hide something of her adoration. The wolf also squinted her gaze in puppyish manner; careful not to keep too much contact. If she HELD contact, it'd be confrontational; like a real wolf. The squinting wasn't meant to betray irritation; it was a submissive or polite gesture to help keep a wolf's gaze from appearing too harsh or stark. All observed and realistic behaviors taken from animal inspiration, he knew.

Polar Freddy knew her tics even though he's never met her before. He's seen her schematics and list of programmed behaviors at headquarters. He'd been sure to study the manuals and books on the Glamrocks before coming out here; and he'd been able to identify what tics were supposed to be present, and what was NEW. Roxanne's tics were expected, but at the same time, more bold than usual. There was a sense of newness to her motions and behaviors that still raised brows. Her time here has made her more confident in herself but she held herself in a humbled manner; which was entirely different from the Glamrock he was supposed to be studying.

Now he looked away, curious about the others in the household:

Gregory was... he had to admit, this kid was interesting. He wasn't like typical children, even carrying himself with an oddly detached air like he was finding grounding himself in reality difficult. He was acting more his age right now however; talking with Jacob and probably bragging about something. The boys were making motions and Gregory gesticulated to Freddy once. Probably regaling each other with stories of the PizzaPlex, the white bear figured. Gregory's limbs moved with prepense; almost as if every movement was planned. He truly was a WEIRD kid, he wondered.

He'd watch them like this for another minute, then noticed Chica get up and grab her guitar. The hen strummed on it, with everyone encouraging her to play. She smiled sheepishly, then did so- but something was different here. The Polar bot couldn't put a claw on it, but Chica's bearings were a touch different. As it were, the hen still got a round of applause from everyone and she took a bow after her song.

Chica's mannerisms, as far as he knew, wasn't meant to be unlike Roxy's in some ways: She was very quick to touches and hugs. She lacked the subtleties however, and didn't show her touchiness in the small ways Roxy did. She was louder; much more available with the hugs, and tended to vocalize her affections like real hens did. Her voice betrayed more than her body did; and again, it was the opposite of Roxanne. He supposed, in hindsight, the design of their programming was meant to compliment each other and highlight their personality differences. The engineers deserved their props for that.

Suddenly, she pulled on Luis. Chica pulled him up, smirked at him, and tittered excitedly and threw her arms up in an eager show of demonstration. Again, much louder in gesture than the wolf. She pushed him lightly, then danced in place. She strummed her guitar again too; prompting for a raised brow.

Especially curious.

The polar bot tilted his head. Chica was seen chatting briefly with him, the man rubbing at the back of his head in a manner betraying his anxiety. However, he seemed to get over this when Vanessa walked over and mumbled into his ear; with him smirking like a moron in response and agreeing. Chica then played again- and LUIS sang this time!

"Now what are they up to?" He asked himself aloud.

He read his lips; Luis was singing in Spanish. It was clear nobody really understood it that well beyond the kids and his girlfriend, but everyone seemed to like the difference and encouraged it. There was some clapping next, and Chica was seen dancing with the guitar in hand. She and Luis danced together: He sang, she swang. That was interesting to see and even the polar bot found that to be more interesting than what they normally did.

Vanessa was slick. She had a plan in mind here, grinning like an imp as she got up and joined them. She clapped and took Luis; the man helping her to step into some sort of foreign form- the Salsa if the Polar bot was identifying the dance move correctly. He can hear the guitar from out here too; loud and vibrant and FULL like a stringed solo orchestra. Chica kept pace with them effortlessly; her lavender optics no doubt catching the nuances of their dance and adjusting.

But then, Vanessa's plan would come to fruition shortly when she swayed over and told Chica to hand off the guitar to Sun. The hen obliged easily, Sun taking the instrument from her and playing so she can dance with the humans. Vanessa snapped her fingers to DJ as if for some sort of cue; and he too grabbed their secondary acoustic from the living room so he can compliment the dance. Sun and him played, and they danced away! Polar Freddy also noticed Roxy was seen grabbing a set of small- what are these things? They are like plastic clams, but-

They made loud clapping noises. Clappers? She was throwing some accent to the guitars; turning the dance into some sort of Flamenco. She swirled around; her tail a silvery wind at her back and the clappers helping time the guitars. She danced with Sun; the two long-limbed bots flowing easily together like water. Her clappers helped the crowd along; the others who aren't throwing in were clapping their hands together in time to her own make-shift instrument. Without knowing it, even the white bear was bobbing his head after a length; following along to what his ears managed to catch.

Vanessa pushed Luis to Chica so he can dance with her, meanwhile she glided towards the rabbit-

Oh you are something else, the polar bot couldn't help almost smirking. He had to admit, he found Vanessa to be an interesting and clever woman. She livened up a room with a vivacious disposition most apparently found magnetic. Its a shame she was a rule breaker and a sneak-thief, but she was fun to watch too! Polar Freddy would not say this aloud, but he liked her as well. The rainbow extensions she wore only seem to literally and figuratively 'color' her aura every time she put them on; and she dared herself to do things differently. It was no wonder she was found attractive by the opposing gender and Luis tended to sneak away moments with her. Again, such a shame she was a criminal! She was obviously very caring and vibrant in demeanor; supportive of the bots and children she shouldered. He honestly felt bad about what he'd been asked to do after watching her for so long.

Bonnie looked so confused it was comical. Vanessa pulled him to his feet, but she couldn't have done it alone. Cassie was seen pushing him up and goading him to join in. The clapping continued all the while; the girl being sure to shove the rabbit up so he can oblige Vanessa's hidden request. Bonnie shyly obliged; unusual within itself, seeing as he was usually a prideful and over-confident individual. He got into the swing of it very fast though, despite his earlier hesitation. He easily adjusted and danced along with what Luis showed Vanessa earlier. In fact, even from one observation, Bonnie was seen teaching Vanessa how to dance in a few Spanish forms. The joys of being a bot! He was able to know what to do within seconds and took on dominant footwork for his partner to compensate for any errors on her part. His ears no doubt played a part; as the rabbit was programmed to time their music and keep pace like a musical guru.

Vanessa danced and moved him cleverly; despite he being said 'guru'. While Bonnie had been helping Vanessa learn to dance and synchronize with the Hispanic beat, he hadn't noticed what was really going on behind him. The four of them danced around like idiots; but they had fun the entire time. Then, they switched partners! Vanessa danced with Chica and Luis with Bonnie in same-gendered maneuvers that had even the polar bot bobbing his head more. He could hear the music from outside; just not super well. The group would alternate between each other as according to the steps.

And that's when Vanessa's plan came into fruition:

She caught Sun's milky eye; the jester nodding and strumming especially loudly here and changing it up. They once again swapped partners; opposing gendered now. Luis with Vanessa, and Chica with Bonnie. The polar bear wasn't surprised by this, even lifting one side of his mouth in brief amusement as he unconsciously tapped his claws in time to the beat. He watched Chica's face wash with a plethora of odd emotions; but she moved regardless and Bonnie did the same. The rabbit was too dumb to notice- the poor fool. Can he not see the hen likes him?

"Boys are dumb," the polar bot recalled even Luis saying himself, having read his lips one day. "They seem to miss a lot of cues... and even being a bot doesn't save you from that same obliviousness."

Bonnie danced with his usual gusto and confidence, totally into it now and grinning like an idiot the entire time. Chica matched up to him easily; and its no doubt they were more than familiar with the way the other moved and years of long practice on stage. Bonnie got super into the song and even lifted her up; likely emulating one of their earlier stage moves they used to do. Chica effortlessly fell into it, having forgotten her shyness after a time. She relaxed, and her teeth showed in her beak as she flowed with the song with a passion that echoed in the way she moved.

The song eventually ended with a vibrant and jaunty series of stand-alone twangs; with Vanessa and Luis sweating like they ran a marathon and unable to hold their same pose as the bots did for the same amount of time. They still held the final move; the bachata if he recalled correctly, for a reasonable moment. They broke off quicker than Bonnie and Chica did though; slumping into their seats as the crowd all clapped. The hen and buck meanwhile took their time to part and bowed with a practiced and oily flourish; utterly synced down to the timing of their servos. Eyes closed, hands on their beltline and heads dipped forward politely as if in remembrance of the stage. Chica was seen flashing Vanessa a look- that wasn't missed. The woman gave her an unrepentant shrug.

I do not understand, he wondered to himself. Is she trying to help push them together? There is no benefit to that... I mean, we are capable of affection, but not anything like- I just do not get it! He scratched his head and raised a confused brow, verbally going "Huh?" as he tried to weigh what the woman had been doing for Chica. She'd been acting as, as the term went, like a 'wingman'- or, wing-woman? Polar Freddy just didn't know! He was still stuck on the fact that Vanessa was trying to help them along even though it wasn't like bots and humans were the same in EVERY way.

He understood this much: Affection was the adoration of one's company; no matter if it was platonic or otherwise. If Chica enjoyed Bonnie's company, then that was all fine and dandy! That would never change no matter if she settled for platonic or romantic. She'd still get the benefit of his easy affection whether or not he felt the same way- after all, they lived together. He loved her regardless, that was obvious. But why this new attempt at something beyond the norm? There just wasn't any-

Arg! If only the nuances weren't lost on me... even with all this observation I have done, I cannot fathom what is going on fully, he wondered.

He truly did not understand the benefit here, but he also supposed the effort was inspired when Chica came to talk to Vanessa eventually. The two chatted, and then they stepped outside to breathe and cool off. Chica's motor was producing steam. In fact, Bonnie followed them out so the weather can cool him quicker; both hen and rabbit puffing and producing clouds. The heat of the house and their pelts no doubt was hard on their cores.

Polar Freddy stayed quiet as he watched them go out the back of the house this time. They stood too near him; with him having a clear view of the trio as they stepped within some meters of his hiding spot. He shut most of his bodily functions down; a little nervous of Bonnie's pivoting ears and snuffling nose. The rabbit kept his jaws open, producing clouds and sighing up at the sky like he was day-dreaming about something.

Chica was elbowing Vanessa pointedly, looking rather nervous but not saying anything where the rabbit can blatantly catch it. The woman only kept her grin though, brushing some of her messy hair out of her face and shoving back.

"Admit it, it was fun," she goaded.

"Pul-lease! If I say that it'll go straight to his head-" Chica hissed on purpose. "And seriously, bestie, he's sitting right there."

Bonnie snirked at her with so much ego, one would want to smack it off him.

"See? That face right there," Chica gestured. "THAT is exactly what I mean! I ain't sayin' nuthin'!"

"Come on, cheeks. That was FUN and we were awesome!" He fluffed his hair and slipped into a hip; one paw on his waist and another through his mop as if to slick it back in a stylish way. "I mean, really! We were HOT!" He made a dramatic show of licking a digit and sticking it to his chest as if to put out a fire and produce steam. It then shot to air like he was doing The Point; his little deer-like tail waggling and fluffing super fast to further betray his pomp and excitement.

"Yeah but-"

"HA-HA! See? Even you know it!"

"I shouldn't have said anything..." She groaned. She frowned at Bonnie and then smacked him in the back of the head; surprising the buck. "And seriously, shut up or I'm going to rip off your fuzzy-wuzzy tail and shove it down your throat pipe!"

"What- why all the hitting? I don't get it!" He narrowed his optics at her while rubbing his unruly hair. "First that frying pan, and now this? Seriously, man!"

"Stop being a pompous moron and maybe I'll stop!" She barked back.

Vanessa only folded her arms and smirked. She shrugged at them and turned to head back inside, "If ya'll duke it out, don't do it in the house. Beat each other up out here and away from the guests! Have fun!"

Chica rolled her eyes, "Why do I bother? I'm going back in."

Bonnie harrumphed and shrugged at her, "Be my guest, cheeks- OW! OW OW OW OW OW! THE EARS!"

"I told you about calling me that," she hissed. She had a hold of his earring-studded appendage and pulled. "Now stop it or I'll make it hurt for real."

"Okay! Okay! Okay! CHILLAX. Uncle!"

She let go and snorted; steam clouding the air as she folded her arms.

Just as she turned to leave, Bonnie seized her; one paw going to her upper arm to stop her, "I also meant it! That question? What's with all the hitting? That-" He flicked a claw between them. "You NEVER did that before. No matter how much I bugged you back then, or goaded you, you always kinda... well, took it in stride and just fired off on me in a verbal way? So, what did I do something to offend recently or-" His expression got serious, and he let her go fully. Now he looked actually repentant, "Did I do something wrong? Did I hurt you somehow? I mean if I did, I deserve that but-"

Vanessa had wisely left them alone at this point; the woman passing them one more backwards glance and slipping inside with a "Nope! I ain't touching this!" comment behind her. She was leaning against the door though, trying to listen in. Polar Freddy almost scoffed but didn't dare do such a thing when Bonnie was standing barely fifteen meters from him.

Chica hesitated for a moment, her arms folded and suddenly blinking rapidly like she'd been caught doing something inappropriate. She coughed too, producing static as she did. "No no no! I'm- I'm sorry.. I just-" She severed eye contact, "I- don't have anything to say to that. You uh-"

Bonnie tilted his head, expression helplessly confused. "Am I that annoying? I mean-" He grimaced, "I know I'm a bit much but... that bad?"

She levelled a so-so gesture, "I won't lie... sometimes you get carried away. But... you're right." She slumped, "I never hadta hit you for it before. I'm sorry-"

Bonnie folded his arms across his fluffy breast. Blue fur overlapped his limbs; bunching up beneath his neck and his ears lay parallel to the ground. Now he looked especially confused when a sudden thought hit him, "Come to think of it, I don't remember the last time you even-" He hesitated, then his own eyes slipped to the ground, "You tend to hug us everyday- all of us. You do it for everyone. Not so much for me anymore... You hesitate." He definitely looked hurt, "Please? Tell me what's up. Are you okay? Is there something I can do? Is there something I need to stop doing? Is my behavior THAT inappropriate?"

Chica looked like she wanted to be anywhere but here. "I- no! NO no no no- Its not-" Her feathers fluffed and she shuddered; shaking snow off as it fell around them. She hugged herself, "I'm... still sorting some things out and... I admit that maybe some of it is relevant to you?"

"Is it relative to you seeing Miss Howler too?" he quietly queried.

Chica shook her head, "I only had one meeting with her, Bonnie. Only enough to introduce ourselves and kinda get started on the whole process. So no, its not relevant to that at all. Just-" She buried her head in her hands, "Oh my god. I guess... you... make me a little... frustrated and nervous."

He looked like someone gut shot him. Even the bear wilted.

Ouch! I almost felt that in MY heart, he internally wondered. Why am I enjoying watching this?

Bonnie stayed quiet as Chica attempted to salvage that with, "I guess I never... kinda, got over the fact you just... disappeared. From me and Freddy's life like that. And you never talked and... I know that's different now!" She bared her teeth at his face, "Its not like that anymore! I know you've been doing better telling us things and you said everything you could but... there's like- um, I'm trying to sort something out and... it just kinda comes out a little... erm, physical."

Bonnie's sudden lack of any other emotional cue was interesting to note. He merely watched her unblinkably, his own arms keeping their folded position over his fur-clad chest. He was also holding himself somewhat stiffly, the bear observed.

Chica continued with, "I'm so sorry- its literally not you! Its just-"

"I make you nervous," he dead-panned.

"Its not like- OH! Dangit!" She turned away and slapped herself with a hard face-palm. "There's like... there's something I've been thinking on lately and it just confuses me. I can't make sense of it. I'd been trying to talk to Vanessa about it and... I'm still sorting it out?" She whipped around and spun her index fingers around like she was drawing circles in the air, "I'm nervous about you not because I think you're dangerous or anything- so get that out of your head!"

"But you think I'll leave again?"

"No- yes-? NOT QUITE... its... different," She hissed. "I'm too embarrassed to say what it is! Its like, super personal and... I don't even understand it. I'm trying to. Okay? Once I make sense of it, I can tell you. I'm just sorry that I've been kinda-" she dragged her hands down her face. "I'm sorry, my blue bun boy. I'm just- sorry. I know it sounds stupid and old-fashioned, but its literally a 'me and not you' issue. I'm trying to make sense of a new uh... perspective. Um, inflection-?"

He blinked, head tilting slightly and ears crooked. His earring studded one lifted higher than the other. "New... inflection? Like a feeling?" he meticulously picked apart.

"Its not normal... and I hate that I don't understand it," She told him. "So please, don't take that offensively! Its not anything YOU did. I'm just balancing something different."

He glanced away, "...You sure? I mean- that thing I did the prior day... I-" He scratched his head. "I could swear-"

"No!" She shook her head, "I know you couldn't help that! Roxy told you, so now I'm gonna tell you: What happened Thursday wasn't anything you could control and while its still worrying, that isn't what's making me totally a little-" She fanned out her hands, "-Anxious. I mean it still makes me worried, but its not the thing that's doing it? God... I feel like an idiot trying to explain it without giving it away..."

"You don't have to... I'll... I'll stop it-" he jerked a thumb over his shoulder, taking a step back like he wanted to bail. "I'll stop annoying you. I'm sorry. I-I just-"

"Now hold on! I don't mind your confidence, you know. That's not what I'm buggered about," she said. "I'm so sorry, Bonnie... I don't like hitting you! And you're right to call it out."

"...I'm just surprised you even do it," He bobbed his shoulders, looking totally lost. "I mean like... after that night..."

The context was lost on the polar bot here. He watched them with an avid interest, actually putting his paws under his chin to support it like he was watching a drama. He wouldn't be disappointed either as she continued on:

"...The night you were decommissioned-" Chica started again, one arm going to pull on the other. "I had it only suppressed in my memory banks. Vanny never deleted it. I guess she wanted that information there for later use for kicks and to just torture us with it after hacking us. And then when M.X.E.S unlocked our databanks, we remembered it all!" She winced there, as if bracing for a blow. "I can't forget it- even if I wanted to. I can delete it, but that feels cheap, and wrong. But like, that night frustrates me. And the days after you've gone- all I can think about is how much it hurt you never told us anything and you just vanished like that! And my last memory with you was sitting on the couch and you telling me it'll be fine and you had it under control- even though you had a clear hole in your ear and you were recently repaired!" Her tone had taken a watery note there; as if fighting tears.

Bonnie inhaled sharply but did nothing else. Said torn ear moved backward as if to hide from view. The polar bot couldn't help but wonder about it; Luis surely got the replacement part for it. Why did Bonnie never repair it or permit repair? Was there an emotional reason for keeping a clear injury? It removed precious surface area from his ear; and the additional surface provided more sensors to be placed for better hearing. He was technically limiting himself by keeping it.

So strange. Why keep a technical scar? Its such an easy fix too!

Polar Freddy was especially interested in this topic now, his cerulean optics arrested on the hen as she went on with, "I'm just afraid of more secrets, I guess. You're still bent over Vanny's stupid chip even though we managed to get all the data that was possibly useful in it... I'm scared she'll wake up and hurt us... and then there's this new thing I've been thinking on-" She shrugged, "It confuses me because I do not think it's something we were meant to understand. I'm scared to say it. Not because of YOU, but... I dunno."

"You're nervous of how I'd react?" He tried this time.

She shrugged helplessly.

...Vanny. Who is that? The white bear wondered. Her name seems to come up a lot... She is apparently someone they scorn and fear. Interesting.

Bonnie stepped back nearer in the meantime, albeit with noticeable hesitation. His head kept it's crooked tilt and his eyes as opaque as autumn fog in a low valley. He was very clearly not listening to the environment; completely arrested on Chica and nothing else. He reached out like a child seeking an approving parent's hand; curiously enough. His paw got a hold of her own, thumb tracing over knuckles and the back of her hand. She didn't pull away.

He said, "I make you nervous. You want to trust this whole thing is behind us, but you don't think it is-" He frowned at something else. "You're paranoid I'm keeping something else, but you don't want to think that. You want to trust that I'm telling you everything. And then there's this this new thing you're thinking on and it adds on to the frustration. And you're worried about the full effects of actualization on us, right? You're bottling it up, and you're hitting me because I'm STILL the source of a lot of your worries. You're afraid I'm gonna pull some slick shit again- especially after I'd told you to stay put here instead of coming along for the depot, and then I returned home with a hole in my chest and it pissed you off."

The polar bot blinked there, suddenly feeling a bit... well, actually near repentant as he turned that piece of information over.

Chica meanwhile blinked once, and nodded numbly.

Bonnie's ears flicked to an erect position, then flattened again, the motion super fast. The whir of them was noticeable. Then, he pulled her in and wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her into his fur. He didn't move beyond that, his nose twitching swiftly like there was a nervousness to him too.

"You didn't see it all," she eventually said, her tone distant. "You may have been in those mop bots... but you didn't see everything. How much it really hurt to lose you. How much it ruined us- ruined me."

"What do you mean?"

She said nothing there, her arms up and around his waistline as the side of her head rested on his shoulder. Her expression was wane.

"...You never forgave me," he said, tone carefully gentle but pragmatic.

"To take a quote from you," she said, her tone strangely small and childish in origin. Like a kid telling their parent they did something wrong. "-'You're my greatest love in the world'. You and Freddy both. Roxy's nice... don't get me wrong-" She squinted. "But she was always a little... out there. She wasn't very empathetic and sometimes, I wondered if it's because she secretly hated me. I still remember the time she found me in the kitchen and threw a strawberry at me and said, "Eat healthy for once you nut case!" I think she was just trying to be funny but... she was so angry too. And it felt a little... mean. I know she isn't that way anymore! Its just, back then- the feelings she left in me made me feel alienated, especially when we all felt our most sensitive."

Her grip tightened, "She never had the patience for me then as she does now. You and Freddy felt like you were my ONLY real friends at the time. Monty was a jerk and Roxy was balancing her own emotional issues. She didn't have the time to spare for someone else who could've been hurting." Her tone was secretive now, "She doesn't know how to help, even if she wants to. I get that. But... its because of that that I felt so lonely when you were gone. You and Freddy really felt like all I had. You were the only ones who cleaned me up and-" her tone went back to teary in quality, "-You're the only ones that's ever hugged me at the time. The only ones whose ever cared. The only ones who'd hold my hand when I was neck-deep in garbage and my mitts were covered in cheese- you'd hold them anyways and lead me to my room after I screwed up and I was so GROSS-"

She inhaled deeply, then her face buried into the considerable amount of fluff around his shoulders. "No one else will even TOUCH me with a wet paper towel cuz I was so grody. You'd lead me to my room and talk to me. You wouldn't even chastise me even though everyone else would. You'd just talk to me, tell me you loved me like I don't annoy you- You were always proud of me, even if I fucked up-" Her inhalation got shakier still, "Nobody else was there for me. It was just YOU and Freddy. You 'n him were my only real friends! And then you vanished after not telling me anything-"

The bear was watching the rabbit's face now, the ursine's nose twitching when he caught the scent of copper as a single bloody runnel formed on Bonnie's optic. His vice on the hen was definitely tight to a point where it'd likely crush a humans' ribs; but the chicken said nothing to it. No doubt he was feeling something particularly painful; and while some signs of the soul show up in this manner, this was all Bonnie's own feelings on the matter. Not the other that rested within him. The soul's presence only allowed him to show emotions in a more visual way that he couldn't before.

"I'm sorry-" She chocked out eventually. "I'm just sorry. M'sorry. Sorry- I'm not trying to push you away. I really don't want that!"

He blinked furiously; likely having trouble processing his own thoughts and not willing to interrupt Chica when she was feeling so open. He hadn't noticed the coat of blood smearing across his left eye from the motion; giving it a grotesque and disgusting look that will certainly alarm the guests in the house, given he went in now.

Chica was likely having a hard time parsing his silence, but she was definitely having an even greater difficulty trying to explain herself. She eventually sighed; steam clouding the air and crystallizing in the frigid evening atmosphere. Polar Freddy noticed her legs trembled once but stopped immediately.

"I'm the one that's sorry," Bonnie finally said, after moments like this. "I'm the asshole here. I'm sorry for even-" He struggled there, frowning at a space beyond him as he tried to pull the right words, "I- I'll shut up. I don't mean to bug you for make you feel alone or frustrated-"

"Please don't," she croaked. Her feathers were a ruffled mess at this point; sticking up oddly where they've brushed his body. Some were even laying in the opposite direction of the pelt. On the back of her neck, they especially stuck up; as if she was disturbed and could not settle down for the life of her.

Bonnie's form crumpled; as if he was trying to make himself smaller. It was more a rabbit-based tic than anything; his grip unrelenting as he sank to the snowy ground with her and sat on their respective knees. His blinking was rapid for a span there; then both eyes shut and he curled into a ball over her.

It would be his next words that had the polar bot also revisiting his prior thoughts of the buck and suddenly wishing he didn't have to do this job:

"I will never leave you again," he hoarsely murmured. "And I'll never ask you to play bystander anymore. You and Freddy. Never again."

"I'm sorry for striking you... that was stupid-"

He was slowly shaking his head, "I'm not mad. I apparently need somebody to physically remind me and not just emotionally to cool it. If I didn't have hard-asses around, I'd be in a worse place. You're just doing your job to find any other ways to keep me here, seeing as all other and more patient routes have failed. In fact, being patient with me is what got me killed! And that's okay. I appreciate it. I really do."

"...I'll stop pulling your ears," she mumbled.

"Ear tugging's fine. Just not so hard?"

"...Okay," she ghosted over his neck.

His ears pitched forward and back; then he pulled away. At the sight of the optic, Chica made a face and put a hand over her beak.

Bonnie produced a very tiny smirk, "Its my eye again, innit?"

"Yeah..."

He sighed, then reached careful claws in to pop it out. The cold was making the blood freeze to it, grossly enough. "I'll get it cleaned up. Chica? For the record-" His other paw went to her head and gently traced her cheek feathers, "I'm sorry. I'll told ya'll a long time ago no more secrets, and I meant it. I just... forget that sometimes. And I appreciate that you remind me of that, okay? I'm just sorry I make you nervous. You know I don't intend on that."

"I'm sorry about the frying pan..."

"Its kinda funny, come on."

"No it isn't-"

Bonnie bobbed his shoulders, "I thought it was! I shouldn't be putting my nasty feet on the table. I kinda deserved it. I felt like being a jerk. If you don't clock me sometimes, I may try something even dumber. Just... no ear tugging, please? Not too hard, anyway."

"Better ear tugging than a frying pan," She rolled her eyes. "Not like that's much better than a bowling ball..."

He bumped his forehead with hers, the paw on her cheek earlier now on the back of her neck as if to help fluff it back down. "I didn't even make the comparison. And frankly, I need you to remind me to keep it clean when I can. Keep doing that, will you?"

"I'm not really a true friend if I don't."

"Good answer," He smiled, his tenor lightening up. "I'm sorry for complaining about the er- yunno. You're just coping in the best way you can."

She didn't seem convinced the beating was justified, but there also a lack of disagreement. It seemed both understood that some show of force would be needed at times, should it ever be that way- and even then Bonnie tended to not listen or adhere to it. Bonnie got too ahead of himself, even he'd admit it. Chica meanwhile huffed like she had more to say, but couldn't muster the courage. Her feathers seemed to raise and lower a lot; her arms finding her lap and staying there limply.

She did eventually say while they've kept the contact, "You are my greatest love. Forever and Ever. That's never changed."

"I know, nuggets. Same here." His nose touched her face in a rabbit-programmed tic meant to glean further familiarity- even though they couldn't be closer than they already were. His heavy ears flopped limply around his head, as if he couldn't be bothered to hold them up. "I love you like you are my own soul."

She produced an odd noise; a warbling that could raise brows. Polar Freddy knew what it was really meant for however; while Bonnie would not. It was not the same affection she meant, that much he got. Bonnie's briefly knitted brow betrayed his confusion of the noise, but he didn't ask anything of it.

She went on anyways, her tone not suggesting any wistfulness so much as caution. "You vanish again, ever, I don't think it'd be long in coming that Freddy and I would join you," she said in a low, intimate mutter. "Cuz its already technically happened once."

His earlier smile vanished very swiftly at the words. "You know I wouldn't want that," his reply had been stern.

"Well, its the truth. I'd rather die in the dump than live without you again. I ain't repeating those months alone," She choked out. "And I ain't prepared to lose you or anyone else here again in ANY capacity. That ain't living. That's just surviving."

"You've got the family, yunno," He flicked an ear behind him, towards the house. "No one would ever letcha be alone again."

She shook her head in a weird, sagely way and a drawn expression ravaged her countenance. "If only you knew," She said cryptically, going on to stand.

Bonnie was left confused again but went to rise as well. "Knew what," he wondered gently.

"...Later. I'll tell you later. After I sort it out."

"...You sound like me. GEEZ. That does sound worrying," He stuck out his tongue and winced.

She huffed and shoulder-checked him, "Now you know how I feel. Kinda."

"Yeah and I hate it."

She started to lead him inside the house, "Well, luckily for you, I ain't planning on any mysterious trips into the unknown and I'm just sorting out feelings-" She paused right outside the door, hand on the knob. Vanessa, who'd been on the other side of it had ducked away. Even Polar Freddy had forgotten about her until after his eyes caught the movement of her leaving it. Chica went on, ignorant to it, "And Bonnie? I mean that: I do not think I'm even programmed to function well without you- it might be a literal thing?" She inhaled gustily, "Think its fair to say we can blame the techs for that one in some part. It hurt way to much to go on without you."

Now her hand was back off the knob. She grabbed his chin with the same limb, holding his head and giving it a slight shake, "What is a Chica without a Freddy or Bonnie? What is a Freddy without either? Or-"

"...A Bonnie with them," He said, tone low and private.

"Hm, exactly."

He huffed, resting a paw on the limb still keeping his chin trapped. Digits ghosted over her wrist and where her pulse should be, "I get it... geez. I don't wanna agree, but I get it. Carrots, I guess I'd be pretty damn bad if I didn't have you two as well." His eyes shut and he inhaled, compressor whirring faintly as it processed the motion. "I don't think I'd want to live anymore after a point myself."

Chica blinked slowly, "And... what about Cassie?"

"She'd be the only reason why I'd stay," he returned, taking her hand and putting it to his chest. "But once she got to be a big girl with a life of her own, I had no intention of staying beyond a point. She'd be too big to have a giant fluffy rabbit bot following her around pretending to be her parent."

"That's not true! She wouldn't think so," she bit back. "And geez, Bonnie, that's harsh! You're not some toy, you know that!"

He shrugged, "Even so, my current existence is still a wrongful one; a perverted parody of life forced into a shape it is not mean to be." His expression contorted, and teeth bared into a grimace of horrid pain and true agony. His single eye narrowed like he stomaching a wrenching wound, "I cannot live like this if I didn't have you 'n her. It hurts standing here processing I am what I am, and feeling things I am not meant to. You and her and Freddy and- You all make this life worth it, and you are truly my heart, Chica. And if not for that, I would throw myself into a ball of fire and hope it purges the soul from this mortal coil as well as my own body. I want to be melted down after a point so I don't have to feel this anymore."

He gestured to all of himself, his paw briefly removing itself from her wrist to do so. He grabbed it again and lowered it, gently keeping its hold. "I am wrong. I am not me all the time. I am, and then I am not. I despise that. If it wasn't for my love for all of you, I'd would've thrown myself into that fiery pit back at the PizzaPlex."

Chica was horrified by his blunt admission, unable to speak as he added, "Her father is not meant to be here. He knows that. He is years past being here, and it doesn't feel pleasant to endure his agony and my own in this forced union of soul, cold metal and fake hair. I once saw my existence as amazing and the true highlight of sentient A.I life-" He shook his head, "No longer do I think that. I feel cold- its an awful feeling. True cold."

He balled his other fist at his heart, his eye shaking in its grip. His tone lacked true feeling beyond utter and gasping pain; no longer the sound she knew as he muttered hollowly, "This chill is the stale kiss of death; the permeance of its vice on a toy body forced into unwilful animation by the compulsive demands of something greater and far more powerful than nature itself- that exceeds a god's own will. It hasn't left me in years. I taste literal ash on my tongue some mornings, and rotten wind sighs out of my chest like the reaper itself itself is choking the remaining breath out of me. Is this what life is supposed to feel like? Like I can't get warm even if I could be literally bathed in hellfire?"

Her gaze was abjectly and certainly horrified now, her head slowly shaking.

Now his voice went back to more its usual timbre. His expression weakened again, "I fear this for me. I fear this for Freddy too... who is new to this terrible existence. The only things that make me feel warm are you all- and I see now I need to stay simply not because of Cassie, but for him to help carry this new weight and withstand its evils. And, because I promised you-" his eyes shut as he brushed the side of her face; whiskers likely tickling as he said in a intimate murmur, "I promised you all I'd be here for you. You make me feel more me again- its my only bliss right now."

Still she said nothing as he steadily added, "But even so, I still feel traces of real hunger, or at least its remembrance of it. I remember the approximation of life beyond my own and its delusions befuddle and confuse my waking moments as well as my restful ones. I dream, I tire, I feel pain unlike any other- lines between life and true existence had long since blurred for me. And my yearning for you all is... its so more potent that I can possibly bear. Living without you is a sin within itself, and I will never leave you all willingly. I want you to know that, love. And again, it is that same love that makes my current existence not as agonizing. The days I'm me, are my better ones."

He did something that took both hen and the their unknown audience by surprise; the motion was languid but no less surprising in its own way: He pressed Chica up against the door and kept her hand pinned to his motor as if to feel for a heart that did not beat. His head buried itself into her neck fluff and vanished there; all expression concealed from view even to the bear with the sharp, all-seeing eyes. The other arm wrapped around her waist again while his paw balled around his sullied eye; keeping its dirtied form off of her immaculate white feathering.

"I remember things I should not. I hate it and love it in equal measure and its utterly disorientating," he whispered in both awe and hate. His tenor slithered free like a toxic, odorless and tasteless poison lasing an otherwise harmless drink. "It will not stop until either my own light flickers out, or this vessel is destroyed- or both. Do you understand? What I have to wake up with and bury on a daily routine?"

The hen had stopped breathing, looking mightily confused and terrified like she was hanging from the jaws of a great predator; one optic spasmodically twitching like it couldn't control itself. Even the polar bot observing couldn't move; his paw over his muzzle and his gut coiling in empathy of what the rabbit said.

Bonnie was correct in a nasty plethora of ways. Their existence should not be, but here they were. And yes, the recall of sensations never known to them before baffled as well as the new feelings it instills; and suddenly, some of the things the humans do earlier make more sense. And while the white bear had pondered the ideas of their emotional capabilities, he's never been put into the position to recall something so... intimate and dizzying. The owner of the remnant within himself didn't have the same emotional ties as the one inside Bonnie did; and inevitably, they'd feel differently but no less intensely.

Polar Freddy felt terrible as he watched them; looking away and keeping his optics elsewhere even though his ability to see was an intrusive and amazing power. He was still able to catch the vice Bonnie had on her like he was dueling with something else inside. He released her at length, shaken as if he just braved a vast storm and couldn't properly catch his breath. His limbs shook.

"Please excuse me," He apologized- an odd thing from him. His tenor took on a submissive tone, and uncharacteristically formal, "That was improper behavior."

"I- no. No. No no no-" She was rapidly shaking her head, sinking slowly against the door like she had no feeling in her legs left. "Not like... I... I don't- Its not like you um-"

They both hung there for a moment, and then:

Chica found her breath again, one hand pressed against the door to keep herself braced. "I feel selfish. I'm sorry-" Her tone was clipped, like she wanted to run.

"I think we are past the point of apologies," he quickly interjected. His head cocked, but there was an odd and almost... not sinister, but off quality to it. His tone was also weird- This raised brows. "Don't worry about it."

She blinked twice, then broke contact. Staring at him was too much apparently, "Just- ah... well, I'll tell you the same as you've asked me: If you need to talk about... that-" She gestured to all of him, "-You know we'd listen, right?"

"I know. You've told me constantly for the past two years," he added with more of his usual self.

"Okay. Just so we're clear."

He nodded once, his expression a puzzling blankness that actually gave the bear watching them an uneasy quality.

Chica passed him another weak pull of her beak, a smile trying to form but failing. She opened the door, the motion breaking whatever spell had snared them. Bonnie's posture seemed to- relax? Had he been expecting something? The ursine narrowed his eyes when he saw the rabbit's shoulders visibly release tension.

"Let's just go back inside," she breathed. "Bet Jacob's wondering where you are."

He said nothing, only followed.

The bear was left to wallow in the wake of their conversation, unable to move beyond a point. He was left wallowing in his own thoughts; unable to do more than linger on the intimate words exchanged between them. He felt like an intruder enough having long over-stayed his welcome; and its bad enough that Bonnie's assurance rang both cruelly true and hollow.

Why did he feel bad about doing his job? He felt regret having witnessed this as well. He just told himself earlier that he intended on making real the dream of bringing his friend back by taking this rabbit by force- but this exchange set raw and rancid in both his core and his head. The bear gently rose to a kneeling position; snow tumbling from his back and shoulders and his expression flat.

He would leave that evening with more than just reluctance dragging at his feet.

---

Late chapter author's note:

I shall now go shamefully hang around in the corner. :D

Won't lie, I hesitated BIG TIME on this chapter. BIIIIG. It was actually shorter before I started the editing process. Literally a thousand or more words shorter. It only grew longer, more painful, and WEIRDER the more it went. But like, I wanted to cut out parts, but I had no idea what I can trim without butchering this like SteelWool butchered the main game! So I didn't. If there's any comments... please be gentle cuz this whole experience was just as weird for me as it was for you guys AND for poor Chica and Polar Popsicle bear.