Mable: Happy Valentine's Day! Or, well, past Midnight so technically no longer Valentine's Day… Close enough, I suppose! ^_^ Enjoy!
Going Home in a Box
Chapter Fifty-Five
"Charlie, please promise me something."
"What?"
"That under no circumstances will you ever bring Ennard here."
One look at the faux-fiesta decorations, the perpetual party music, and the knowledge of the liquid cheese dispenser and Baby knew if Ennard ever got in here that he might very well never leave.
Charlie jingled at the comment and smiled at the clown at her side.
"Promise, but if he finds his way up here on his own don't look at me. He seems like the type of guy who could sniff out a taco from a mile away," she joked.
"Thank heavens he can't. It's already hard enough keeping him in the house," Baby remarked. She gave a dismissive little wave of her hand and an eye roll.
That amount of sass dragged another snicker out of Charlie before she could stop it. Thankfully, instead of offended Baby simply gave a little 'Hmm' of contentment. Her eyes flickered over Charlie before slowly rolling back over the counter in front of her.
"So, this is where it happened? It must be, I remember this music playing in the background… It really is just as you described, and that alone is quite shocking."
"Are you calling me a liar?" Charlie asked in a joking voice, pointing accusatorily.
"Mmm, maybe…" Baby drew out. She folded her arms behind her back and rolled around back of Charlie before stopping on her opposite side. "Maybe you should prove yourself," she said.
"Prove what? How good of a hider I am or my phone dialing skills?"
"Show me how you popped over the counter," Baby requested. Swaying slightly as she shifted her skates slightly back and forth underneath her. "If you are up to it."
Charlie looked at her incredulously. She could tell from the look alone that Baby was not joking, she wanted to see her dive over the counter like a petty criminal who just nicked the contents of the register.
"It's never going to look as cool as it did the first time. You know that, right?" she asked. Her smile a little lopsided.
"I'll be the judge of that. It certainly can't be anything nearly as awful as sledding down a hill of trash on your face," Baby tutted. Baby only made jokes at her expense for Charlie's benefit or her gain. In this case, likely to take the pressure off and convince Charlie to go ahead and take the plunge.
"Well, okay. If that's what you really want," Charlie said with exaggerated exasperation. She walked over to the counter and hopped over. "Stay back. Once I get going, I can't stop," she forewarned. To which Baby rolled back into the clear.
The Security Puppet backed up nearly to the cheese dispenser and stretched her arms and legs. It wasn't that hard of a move to pull off when fleeing for her life, but when it came to doing it for show it was another story entirely. She never had that much trouble with stage fright, at least not since she buckled down and started performing at Foxy's, but this was another matter entirely. On principle alone she didn't want to screw this up.
Speaking of which- she took off her taser and radio and set them on the counter behind her, just in case she did. Then after one last moment to focus, she made a run for the counter.
It was all very quick considering how long she prepared for it. A quick jump and a dive over the counter, arms out to catch her on the floor, and landing into a roll- though unable to get back up on her feet with the momentum. She got one leg underneath her, so instead of ending up on the floor on her backside, she sort of rolled into a kneel on one knee. It almost looked purposeful, which was exactly what she was going for.
She wasn't sure how awkward it might've looked. Either way, Baby clapped her hand against her claw before offering it to pull Charlie to her feet.
"You are such a showoff," she teased.
"You asked me to do it!" Charlie pointed out with a smile.
"Maybe I did, but you still are," Baby said. She got that look again, lashes lowering. "Which is fine when you can prove it." She spun around quickly, her hand clamping on Charlie's to keep it from escaping. "This way, I assume? I cannot stand another moment of this music."
"See, when you deny it like that it makes me think you really like it and don't want to admit it," Charlie remarked. Baby gave a dismissive little scoff.
The two headed over to the security door to the arcade. Baby released her hand somewhere between that one and the next, bracing herself in case something sprung out with the lifting of the next one. Though instead, the door raised to reveal the east arcade. Baby gave a soft gasp and raised a hand to her mouth. Charlie had been watching for a reaction. She hadn't expected this much of one though, and her smile widened.
"And here we are! Welcome to the arcade. One of them at least."
"Oh!" Baby said in surprise. "It's not terrible!"
That was enough to catch Charlie off-guard and she burst out laughing. To which Baby looked startled and then gave an embarrassed little huff. Planting a hand on her hip, or on the plates of her skirt; Charlie took notice from the soft clink.
"Sorry, I just- that surprised me, is all," she apologized.
"It surprised me too," Baby remarked, brushing it off. She cast her gaze across the room and her eyes nearly glistened with intrigue. "I expected an arcade to be garishly bright and loud, but the lighting in here is quite nice. It must be different during the day though."
"It's not this quiet, that's for sure," Charlie said. Though it wasn't quite quiet now. Not with the soft spacey music and the chimes and sounds coming from the numerous machines that lay ahead.
There was only one Security Staff Bot patrolling around and it was directly in front of the wall with the door to the security office. There were a couple of Cleaning Bots currently wiping at the floor, but they were none-the-wiser to the two passing through.
As they made it past the bathrooms and deeper into the arcade, Baby admired the striped lights branching up into the ceiling like tree limbs. Her eyes trailing up them as she smoothly rolled down the tiled floor. Charlie kept looking back to her to see her reaction.
It didn't take them long to get around the corner to the section of photo booths. Baby took notice of them, eye flickering between them quickly as though she was quickly counting.
"Are those all photo booths?" she asked.
"Every one of them. That's the one Jessica and I hid in," Charlie said, pointing towards a closer one.
"I wouldn't think children would be this interested in photo booths," Baby said. Though it was less questioning and more factual. She hummed knowingly and started to roll up towards the booth Charlie pointed out and peeked inside. "But a good hiding spot nonetheless."
It was then that Charlie suddenly had an idea. Largely spurned by the realization that Baby would be able to fit into the photo booth. She looked at the controls and noticed that this one took tokens instead of money.
"Wait here," she said and turned back to hurry away.
Baby snapped upright and look back with a start. "Where are you going?"
"It's a surprise!"
"To you or me?" Though by then Charlie had ran far enough down that she likely didn't hear her. Baby returned to looking at the attractive neon surrounding her.
Charlie made it back to a counter in the center of the arcade lobby. One that faced El Chip's and that was right outside the bathroom. While the counter had some snacks and drink dispensers, it also had some shirts hanging up and merchandise sitting out. When she leaned over the counter, sure enough, she could see a large lump some of coin rolls in a basket. Though from how thick they were, and the nature of the arcade, she had a hunch they were tokens instead of money.
"Jackpot!" she whispered. She then unhooked her radio and lifted it to her mouth. "Hey, Jake. Do you think it would be okay if I took some tokens? I can pay it back later."
"Go ahead! We're allowed to give out tokens- or the animatronics- the animatronics who are on the floor can give out tokens, you know what I mean. I'm sure Sunny would be fine with it, so just grab fifteen or twenty and we'll say it's through him."
"That seems like a lot."
"You haven't seen the prices on the good games," Jake joked.
Charlie smiled. "Thanks, and tell Sunny thanks too if you see him before me." They said their goodbyes and ended the call.
She grabbed one of the rolls and unraveled it before counting out fifteen coins, thought on it, and then counted out five more and slid the little mound into her pocket. She then closed the roll as best as she could and returned it to the basket before heading back to Baby.
"I'm back!" she called as she jogged up. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a handful of tokens. "What do you say we get our picture taken?"
Baby looked down at the tokens and her eyes opened more to show her mild surprise.
"Charlie, really? Stealing? I am shocked. Utterly stunned… And yet once again modestly impressed."
"It's not stealing, I'm just… Alright, it might be stealing, but Jake said it was okay to take them since they're allowed to give out tokens to guests. Technically we're guests," Charlie excused.
"Technically we didn't pay entry," Baby reminded.
"Technically they're getting free labor through Fritz and Ennard," Charlie pointed out.
"Technically we broke Chica," Baby said flatly.
"Technically Chica threw you into the trash compactor first," Charlie reminded.
"…Yes." Baby's delayed reply was even quieter. "…But I attacked her first. She had every right to do what she did."
Charlie wasn't sure what it was, but something about that tone didn't sit right with her. It was a far cry from Baby's occasional somberness, sounding dour in a way she couldn't explain. Almost hopeless, but she knew better.
"No, she didn't. You both made mistakes," she defended seriously.
Baby stared a moment before she dropped her eyes. Just like she had done in the gift shop.
"Okay…"
Charlie reached out and took her claw- as it was on the side of her free hand- and gave the upper half an assuring squeeze. Then after a few beats, she held out the tokens to her. The clown gave a nod.
"Okay," she said more certainly.
Baby turned and got in first as Charlie popped a couple tokens into the slot and jumped in after her. It was a tight fit, but Charlie didn't mind bumping shoulders for a photo, and she wouldn't have to deal with sitting on Baby's skirt for long.
"We try to make different faces for each picture, right?" Baby asked, having likely seen it on television or something of the like.
"Sounds like a plan! Okay… Zombie!" Charlie said. She then stuck her arms forward and lulled he head in a stereotypical zombie fashion.
She was a little surprised when Baby didn't miss a beat. Loosening her arms to her sides, lulling her head to the side limply, and staring at the camera with an unfocused sort of gaze. One eye even open wider than the other. Come to think of it, it passed as a zombie but couldn't very easily also been the pose of an inanimate animatronic lying dormant. There was a quick flash.
Charlie had an idea already and reached down for Baby's claw before lifting and opening it.
"Here, claw me," she said. She lifted the claw up at her.
"What? No!" Baby tugged, to which Charlie tugged back.
"We're just pretending. It'll be funny," she insisted.
Baby huffed and planted her hand on Charlie's forehead and pushed her back, much to the Security Puppet's look of disbelief. The scene finally interrupted by the flash of a second picture being taken, and Baby snapped her head to attention.
"Diva," she suddenly proclaimed.
Charlie released her claw, and she smoothly pulled it into her lap while striking a pose. Resting the back of her hand against her head while tilting it back and shooting the camera a sultry look. It took Charlie a little by surprise, but she adapted quickly and thrusted a hand to her chest while turning her head away. Mockingly turning up her nonexistent nose at the camera. This was followed by another flicker of the camera shortly after.
The last one. This one had to be special. Instead of giving out any suggestion, Charlie tossed an arm around Baby's shoulders and smiled for the camera. Baby reacted immediately, tilting her head against Charlie's, her hand and claw resting in her lap together.
They waited for the flash.
And then the photo booth went dark. The sound of electronics powering down surrounding them. They sat there for a moment in the darkness, still in the same position, the wheels turning, until Baby spoke up.
"Please tell me that is the hourly recharge and that we didn't blow a fuse."
"It is," Charlie agreed. A quick check out of the curtain showed that all the lights and arcade machines were out. She sighed and sat back onto the seat again. "We should still get our pictures. If we don't, we can always go again."
Baby propped her elbow against the wall and used that to prop her head up. It was going to be a long five minutes, but nothing too unbearable. That was if being in a dark little closet didn't immediately close Baby in with her thoughts and no distractions.
Charlie was fiddling around with a token in her hand when she happened to notice the change in Baby's eyes. She rubbed the token between her fingers and considered it before taking the plunge.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Baby didn't want to talk about it, but as she sighed the words slipped out easily afterwards.
"Why is it so hard for me to be a good person? I thought I was doing better. Yet every time I start to get comfortable, something terrible that I've done comes back to haunt me, reminding me of what kind of person I was… or am. Have I even changed? Am I just acting good and fooling myself?" Baby asked. Before Charlie could interject, she continued, "Do you realize that I have now ruined that Chica's life twice?"
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Ennard and Fritz are working on her right now. If Sunny could pull through, she will," Charlie assured.
"But that will not change what comes afterwards. Ennard can't fix that. Speaking of Ennard, him, I ruined him as well. He pulled through, but I destroyed his life just as eagerly as I did Chica's. And the only reason I care now is because I love him. Her? I used her. I used her and it broke her more deeply than Ennard ever was. And for what? Wires I could have gotten from elsewhere. I hunted her down and ate her like some kind of wild animal. It's disgusting!"
It was the first time Baby's voice had raised through the entire explanation and it was punctuated with her claw snapping. She pressed it down harder into her lap to keep it still and quiet.
"That was a mistake, but you didn't know she was alive. Context is everything, Baby. It wasn't like you went there planning on eating someone. You went there to get parts out of what you thought was a lifeless machine. Maybe you jumped the gun with that decision, but you can't blame yourself with hindsight when you didn't know at the time," Charlie rationalized.
"Would it have changed anything?" Baby quietly asked. "Even now I don't feel nearly as bad as I should. I ruined her life. I made her into this."
"Now that's just not true. What happened to her was terrible and we can't blame her for being messed up after going through that, but her chasing and terrorizing Gregory is on her programming. That's something you had nothing to do with," Charlie reminded. She paused a moment before adding in a quieter voice, "You already proved that you changed tonight."
Baby looked over. "When?"
"When Gregory gave you the perfect excuse to go after Chica and you turned him down. The old Baby would've jumped on that, even if it was to defend my honor," Charlie said. Her tone shifting to slight playfulness at the end along with gaining a small smile. Though it returned to certainty and seriousness as she asked, "You did some terrible things without thinking of the consequences. Isn't the fact that you're upset about it now a sign that you've changed?"
Baby considered this. It didn't seem like much, or enough, but it was true. The old her didn't think twice about what she did. Even if she didn't feel as bad as she believed she should, wasn't her caring at all a sign that something had changed? It had to mean something.
"…Maybe you're right," Baby said. She looked back at Charlie. "Thank you…"
"That's what I'm here for," Charlie replied with an encouraging smile.
Baby's eyes didn't stay on he long. Soon drifting off towards the wall as she considered what she had said. Though her posture had changed. Upright instead of slumped on the wall; she really was thinking, not just wallowing in dreary thoughts. That was a good sign.
Admittedly, Charlie had seen a major change in Baby since they had met. She was genuinely attempting to be better, and to her that was all that mattered.
Besides, Chica wasn't the only person who had their lives forever changed by someone else's actions.
While she had forgiven but wouldn't blow off Baby's past actions, she couldn't in good faith blame all her actions on her own decisions. It was obvious that a lot of what Baby had been fighting through came from the situation she had been brought up in. Like Chica, it wasn't an excuse, but it did give credence to the fact that Baby was actively having to relearn everything. The sad truth was that much of what Baby had become was at the hands of someone else.
It made Charlie wonder what Baby would've been like if she hadn't had died and had been allowed to live a more normal life. It wasn't an unusual thought; Charlie had toyed with the same thoughts about her and Sammy. If he had lived, if their mother took them with her, if her father hadn't passed away, if Afton didn't exist or at least hadn't been a monster. Typically, these trains of thought would bum her out, but in this case, she hitched onto the idea.
She would've probably been in college just like Charlie had been. Maybe she would've studied robotics too, or perhaps she would've been so turned away from it that she went into another field entirely. She wasn't sure why, but the first thing that came to mind was criminal law. Baby was certainly the type who could be passionate and yet set raw emotions aside for later. Imagining her cracking down on crime kind of fit.
Now onto how she would've looked. Remembering how Marionette would've looked, or how he self-imagined himself while they were trapped in that nightmare, Elizabeth probably would've shared some of his features. A narrow face with soft accents, green eyes, hair pulled back in a low ponytail like it was now. Or maybe not. Maybe she would've grown it out. She probably would've been beautiful.
They might've been friends too. Or maybe not. Maybe circumstances would've aligned where they never met and, in that case, maybe some of what they had to go through was worth it. It was better than lamenting what had no chance of ever being.
It wasn't until Baby's radiant green eyes looked to her that she realized she had been staring again, and still was. Even with better night vision, the darkness accentuated their glow.
It was a stark reminder that Baby was not a human. Not on the outside. Not anymore.
But she was beautiful.
"What is it?" Baby asked.
That question suddenly shook Charlie out of her stupor and made her realize she was still silently staring like a creep- or at least she felt creepy just ogling Baby and thinking about her like she wasn't there. Like she was… Like she wasn't-.
"Nuh… Nothing!" Charlie got out. She snapped her head away. "Sorry, I just spaced out. Sorry."
But Baby must've noticed something by the way her eyes were shifting over Charlie's face in confusion. Of course she would notice without looking back after having been staring directly at them. Instead of returning that gaze, Charlie sat rigidly and looked at the curtain.
Baby wasn't convinced by her excuse. She turned fully towards her before speaking.
"Charlie," she began. She then paused, changed tactics, and started again. "Charlotte…"
Charlie lifted her head in surprise at the change of tone. Baby misread the motion and faltered.
"I have never asked if it is okay to call you that," she said apologetically.
"It is. I don't mind," Charlie quickly insisted. She then tested the waters. "…Elizabeth." Baby looked a little surprised. "Or Lizzie. Whichever you prefer, if it's okay with you."
"Only those near and dear can call me that… and I think you've more than met that criteria," Baby agreed.
"I'm glad. And same to you. To tell you the truth, there's only a few people I've heard call me Charlotte who didn't sound like they were patronizing me," Charlie admitted. Baby seemed to perk up at that.
"Alright then, Charlotte. May I ask you something?" she asked. Charlie gave her a bit of an amused look, considering she had been asking plenty already. Baby ignored it and went ahead. "You've seen me at my worst… What do you think of me now?"
"I think you've been through a lot, and I think you're a lot stronger than you or anyone else gives you credit," Charlie answered honestly. She was finally willing and able to meet Baby's gaze and met it with a returning smile. "And I think you're doing great."
"Thank you…" Baby said quietly.
"My turn. What do you think about me?" Charlie asked curiously.
Baby eyes seemed to glow even brighter. "I think you're wonderful."
The answer didn't exactly surprise the puppet but did fluster her further.
"I'm not sure about that," she fumbled.
"I am," Baby said surely. "I think you've brought out the best in me. Everything good in what I've become, I owe it to you. To wanting to be good enough for you."
Normally Charlie wouldn't have overthought a comment like that, even with Baby's soft-serve tone of voice. Except that it was on top of the comments earlier. The one she had made in the basement especially was staying in the back of Charlie's mind.
The thing that got her was that these little compliments and comments, these little moments when Baby didn't act like 'Baby', they weren't new. Baby wasn't acting too different. A little bolder, but her tongue tended to get loose when coming out of a stressful situation.
"Lizzie, are you…?" Charlie carefully began. She rolled her wrist in a sort of hand wave, trying to motion out the words. "How do I say this?"
"Yes."
Charlie looked to Baby. The clown was looking back at her, and their eyes locked once more.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Likely yes," Baby quietly confirmed.
And even though it was just vague enough that she couldn't confirm her suspicions, couldn't be sure that Baby was on the same wavelength as her, Charlie reacted as though she had. Her mask showing her evident surprise. A low ringing stirring in her chest and replacing the raging flush that likely would've spread over her face if she was a human.
"Oh," she said. It was all she could say. Oh.
Baby faltered and shirked only slightly into herself. Her gaze dropping down towards her lap as she buckled.
"Should we head back to the daycare?" she quietly asked.
Charlie wasn't sure how she felt about all this, but she knew how she felt about that. "No!"
Baby looked up in surprise at Charlie's outburst, and she rushed out an explanation.
"I mean, we just got here, and we've got tokens. We ought to play a few games while we have the chance. And this might be our only chance to see the Prize Counter together," she continued.
While it wasn't quite an answer to anything else, if Baby was expecting an answer, she seemed to relax a little at the suggestion. Her rigid posture releasing slightly, like releasing a sigh. Her fingers, digging into her claw, finally loosening up as well. It was going to be okay.
"…Once the power comes back on," Charlie added. Baby hummed in agreement. They returned to sitting there quietly, but more comfortably. Tense, but not stifling.
That didn't stop Charlie's mind from racing. She was trying to not overthink it, but different thoughts and connections crept up, and with them she felt her internal music box tightening as well. Like at any moment it would release and spill out a series of noises that sounded more appropriate coming from a doorbell than her. The only thing that could make her anymore awkward.
Part of her just wanted to get it over with and directly ask Baby, as embarrassing as it was, if what she was thinking and what Baby was implying were the same thing. Though she couldn't muster up the courage to do so, especially when she already believed they were.
The scary part was that despite what this would mean for them and their friends, and her friends, and their family, and all of the complications that would arise from this- complications Charlie had witnessed in her own friend group- she was flattered.
No, not flattered. She was excited. A realization that left her fighting with her wound up music box again, whatever that meant.
Thankfully, before she could delve into what that might've said about her, the power came back on. The photo booth kicked back on as well. Charlie packed up all her reservations and stood up before offering Baby her hand.
The flash went off.
Charlie froze there momentarily, expression undeniably tight, while Baby gave a huff.
"Oh, of course. It waits for the moment I'm looking down," she remarked. She then took Charlie's offered hand and stood, lightly bumping around the booth.
"On the plus side, we might get our pictures," Charlie reminded.
This turned out to be true as she stepped out of the booth to find the slip of pictures being spat out. She looked at them first and admittedly they did look good. Even the one where they were playing tug of war with Baby's claw, which in this context actually came off looking like a gag instead of an actual scuffle. The last picture wasn't nearly as bad as it could've been. She was standing, so the most that could be seen of her was some leg, some jacket, and her hand held out to Baby.
Except for one thing.
"Hey look! It got you with your eyes up. That's something," Charlie said. She held out the pictures for Baby to see.
She was right. Instead of looking down, the camera had just managed to catch her looking up at Charlie before reaching for her hand. Though Baby wasn't sure if it made the picture much better. She was still just sitting there cramped in a booth. Not nearly as impressive as the others had been, but still it was a nice picture. Maybe not for what it was, but for what it would remind her of.
It had been a lovely moment. A moment she was going to remember ever time she looked at this photo.
Charlie was still offering her hand. She always had; she still was.
"Do you want to divvy these up or should we take a second set?" Charlie asked. Still offering her hand, in a matter of speaking.
"I think… I want to keep these," Baby decided. After a tender pause, she glanced back to Charlie. "Which means if you're wanting any, we'll have to pop back in for a second set," she said with a playful edge.
"We can. We've got the time and I've got the tokens," Charlie agreed. She made a show of pulling one out and flipping it in her hand.
Showing off, Baby supposed but didn't comment on. She wasn't going to be the only one. Baby was determined to perfect this next batch of pictures- and hopefully that picture they missed out on due to the power going out.
Needless to say, Baby was feeling better.
It was surprising how strenuous something that was supposedly automated could be. On the whole Fritz had to admit that it was an efficient system. That is, he wouldn't have ever been able to do this many repairs this quickly without it, even with the tools and supplies. Yet it was still precise and exhausting. Especially when he was not used to staying up this late. As the hours crept on, he was beginning to have a little more trouble staying awake.
Thankfully, that's where Ennard's presence was a huge help. He was the safety net in case Fritz started to slip up, to stop him if his addled mind began to do something he wasn't supposed to. Though so far that hadn't happened. Most of the tasks were simple and routine; hard to mess up, but not helping in keeping his mind alert. That was about to change as they finished up in replacing the upper torso of Chica. Though it was hard to take credit for something that was largely automated.
As Chica was reclined back into the seat once more, Fritz and Ennard were faced with their last challenge. Something that would no doubt be their biggest challenge, Chica's shattered face.
While her plating had been utterly decimated, most of what had been underneath had been left untouched- save a quick relocation of her arm that required new bolts to be put in. That didn't count for her face. If the missing beak and voice box wasn't a giveaway that this would be a big job, the bulging unfocused eyes lulling around certainly did. Fritz couldn't help but grimace as he took another look at it before turning and heading out of the protective cylinder to finish off their last job.
Outside, Freddy and Moon were still sitting on the steps. They had been waiting this entire time.
"Alright, Freddy! We're onto the last step!" Fritz called over as he headed towards the desk. He slowed while rubbing his hands together absentmindedly. "…Course it's the hardest step and will probably take the longest to do, but hey, last one."
"Oh, I just love how optimistic you are," Ennard quipped from behind him. He leaned on the desk as Fritz sat down and finished up on the computer.
"That is great news!" Freddy exclaimed. He excitedly stood up from the stairs and looked through the glass, only to visibly recoil at the sight of Chica's still gruesome facial damage. "Oh dear…" he said. He sighed. "Well, she does look much better."
"Mmhmhm, that's not saying much," Moon darkly joked. He rolled his head towards Freddy and looked up at him, but the bear didn't take the bait. He sobered and straightened up. "Perhaps it's time to tell your friends."
"Yes…" Freddy agreed. Moon pressed a finger to where his temple would be preparing to send out a security alert before being stopped by Freddy's hand falling on his shoulder. "We should tell them in person."
Moon hummed and nodded, dropping his arm and turning to climb the stairs. Freddy followed suit, sending one last somber look towards Chica before following him up to his designated elevator.
Fritz ran one last scan over Chica's body to which it, understandably, picked up the momentum damage dealt to her mouth and head. Having locked on, he clicked to begin the procedure and started to get up. Though instead of the same cycle beginning yet again, he was surprised when he was met instead with an error noise.
"I'm sorry, but you are unauthorized to perform this repair. Due to the confidential nature of Chica's super party upgrades, repairs done on said upgrades can only be done with direct clearance from Dr. Talbert."
"What?" Fritz asked in near disbelief. He sat back down and looked, but the pop-up on the screen said virtually the same thing. Even with the upgrade possibly damaged beyond belief, they were barred from touching it. "That's just great," he complained, collapsing back into the office chair. He pointed a hand at the screen. "What now?"
"Well, well, looks like we're doing it the old-fashioned way!" Ennard said, rubbing his hands together excitedly. Fritz looked less than on-board. "Oh, come on! I know you've worked on worse than this! You worked on me once, right?"
"…You know, I don't think I did," Fritz said with mild surprise. Ignoring that, Ennard held up his fingers, showing the smallest inch between them.
"We're thiiiis close! I know it looks bad, but all we've gotta do is get Jake or someone to send for a new voice box and beak and BAM- we're done! As simple as that!" the clown encouraged. "So, what do you say, Fritz? Are you ready to get wrist-deep in a real job?"
Fritz considered that comment for a long moment. He might've even considered it, looking into the protective cylinder, but one look at Chica's ruined face deflated any optimism.
"I don't want to burst your bubble, but I don't think it's going to be as simple as that," he said with an apologetic smile.
Ennard dropped his head dramatically.
"Yeah, I know," he muttered. He lifted his head again with a much more defeated look over his constant smile. "We're done."
"End of the road," Fritz agreed, dusting off his hands.
"Dead end."
"Let's pack it in and get out of here," Fritz said, hooking a thumb back and then dragging himself to his feet.
Ennard sent one last look at Chica. At this angle he had the perfect view of both the gaping cavity of her mouth and the way her right eye was poked out. The latter specifically bothered him, to a point that he couldn't stand it.
"Not yet."
He strode back into the protective cylinder and leaned over her. He started down at her for a long moment, accessing the situation, and then started to reach up and into her gaping mouth. Slowly and carefully sliding his fingers and hand into the opening and angling them inwards and upwards, towards the back of the eyes.
Fritz came in behind him and stared at the scene.
"What are you doing?" he finally asked.
"I'm fixing her eyes. They never fix them right," Ennard explained. "I'm not gonna let her get stuck with the same eye problem I had. She's too cute to have a lazy eye."
"She's quite a looker- you used to have a lazy eye?"
"Oh yeah, real slacker."
Ennard slowly and carefully nudged the wiring back in, helping goad the eye back into place in the socket. Hopefully hooking it where it needed to be until her head casing was replaced. It wasn't a perfect fix, but the best he could offer without going in deeper. He drew back his hand in one smooth motion and looked at his work.
And his work suddenly looked back.
Ennard froze up as Chica's eyes suddenly focused on him. Both of them, even the one he had just repaired. The pupils responding only slightly but her gaze clearly on him. Not just a reflex, she was awake.
The way she looked up to him, staring directly at him, could've been confusion or fear. It was hard to tell which, or if she was alert enough to even recognize who he was. Likely she was, in which case she was dangerous in a new way. She could tell everyone everything. Or, at least, tell someone that he and Baby were in there. They probably wouldn't believe her, but if they did it would immediately put them, their friends, and everyone who helped them in jeopardy. Even down to little Gregory.
It was of the upmost importance that she stayed quiet. Normally in this situation Ennard could be a very persuasive person. Ignoring that he usually wasn't directly seen or purposefully kept himself hidden enough that the assumed target wouldn't be able to give a clear description, thereby discrediting them. Scaring them into silence was always a good backup tactic, because Ennard knew exactly what cards to play to show off how dangerous he could really be.
…But Ennard didn't want to do that. Not this time. Not when he was the reason for everything that happened. He made his bed and now he had to lie in it. So, he would have to fall back on something else, his silver tongue and his impeccable schmoozing skills.
"Oh! We-he-ell there, Bright Eyes! Look who's finally up!" Ennard greeted. Saying it loud enough to also warn Fritz, who quickly backed up out of the protective cylinder. "Don't be scared, Chickadee. I'm just putting you back together as best as I can."
Chica was watching him more like a hawk than a chicken, but it was still unclear how present she really was. Let alone if she was digesting anything he was saying.
"I'm- I'm sorry about what happened. I didn't mean for you to get hurt! I-I-I was just trying to scare you! And protect my pizza. That green stuff's so good. Dunno what it is, but oh boy, good pizza you guys got!" Ennard prattled, emphasizing the stutter when he usually fought to keep his voice projecting smoothly. He tried to sound assuring but nervous, like Scott. Though all of the guilt wasn't disingenuous. He just had to exaggerate, to make her see him as something less stable.
Yet still she stared. This was probably not working how he hoped. He decided to press a little harder, play further into that instability- use that budding panic to his advantage.
"But see, if they find out about me it's going to be really bad. For all of us! A clown running loose in Freddy Bear's Pizza Mall? That's grounds for closure! I should know, last place closed for the same thing. I was there, I always am. Haven't caught me yet! But tell you what- we keep this between us and I don't come, m'kay? Aaand, they don't think you had some sort of funky clown hallucination after your little accident and don't go popping your head open. Whaddya say?"
Chica didn't say anything. She didn't even have the faintest inkling of a response. She was just so deeply out of it that she could only stare at him and he couldn't tell if any of what he was saying was reaching her. Some plan.
Yet he did genuinely feel bad for her. Even with her trying to eat him, even with her almost killing his assumed sister, he still did feel remorseful for what he did. Especially when knowing that she was stuck with that same hunger he had been. That hunger had made him do plenty of things he regretted. He understood it better than anyone else.
"…Food doesn't fill it," he whispered. "That hole, that hunger. Food, stuff, it doesn't fill it. Sometimes wires help, but it's all- it's in here," Ennard explained, tapping his temple. "I saw a whole lot of inside you while we were fixing your plates and you've got different wires now. There's just, like, a pocket of them right in the middle. Your body wouldn't even know what to do with those old wires anymore, they woul- they wouldn't fit."
That time it was an unintentional hitch in his voice. "There's a thing inside of you and it's telling you to eat and it's telling you to chase kids, but all it's going to do is take away everything you've got. You've got to fight that beast because they won't give you a second chance if anyone winds up getting hurt. In the end, it's you. You get it under control or you get swallowed up by it."
She was still staring, but something changed. He wasn't sure what it was or how he could tell, but he knew she was listening. Whether or not she understood or cared to listen was another thing entirely. The ball was in her court now.
"But don't worry-!" Ennard continued. Only to suddenly be interrupted by the sound of distant footsteps echoing in a hallway. He jumped up as he listened to them coming in. "Whoops, gotta go!" he rushed out before turning and bolting for the door.
He could hear one of the doors opening and the footsteps running into the room, so he quickly ducked out of the cylinder, around the desk, and ducked under the window of the cylinder on the other side. Hiding just in time to be missed by Roxanne Wolf who all but blew past Fritz, who was still standing there, and into the protective cylinder. She was actually staggered by the sight of Chica's busted, beakless face.
"Holy skid marks- Chica!" she yelled. She stared at the unmoving body wide-eyed and horrified before her head snapped to the technician standing nearby. "Why haven't you fixed her face?!"
"I can't. I'm not allowed to. I tried, but because of some upgrade they won't let me do it," Fritz quickly defended him. His hands up in defense and him leaning back as she stomped up to him.
"Then what DID you do?! She looks terrible!" Roxanne snapped. Her teeth clicking with the swing of her jaw. Though before Fritz could get anymore worried, a voice spoke up in his defense.
"Sommmewhere between eighty and ninety percent of herrr plating," Moon interjected with a simulated click of his non-existent tongue. He came down the same steps she had, his ever-present smile seeming more sinister than ever. "Evvvveeerything except her face."
Roxanne looked back at him, at that smile, and then her arms dropped to her sides in an almost frustrated motion. She then looked back towards Chica and only then did her face soften the slightest bit. Fritz felt like he should say something but didn't want to rock the boat doing so, so he just stood there silently, dumbly, until another one of the four doors opened.
This time it was Monty's and he began to slowly thump his way towards the closer stairs. Ennard just barely managed to squeeze himself into a nook between the cylinder and the stairs to be entirely missed by the gator. Monty acknowledged Fritz with a nod as he passed by before standing alongside Roxanne and looking in. He then, in the fastest motion he had made all night, tugged down his sunglasses to stare at the state Chica was in. Only to then silently push them back into place.
Not long after this, Freddy thundering footsteps could be heard before he came through his door and hastily made his way to stand with his bandmates and Moon. The moment he reached them, Roxanne turned to him seeking answers.
"What happened?! Moon said she fell in the trash compactor?!" she asked.
"I am… not entirely sure how it happened," Freddy quietly said. He looked towards Chica and then down at the floor in regret. "…There was Monty Mystery Mix involved."
"They still got that stuff?" Monty asked.
"Why would they leave that stuff out?! They know how crazy Chica gets when she smells that stuff!" Roxanne yelled in frustration, totally ignoring Monty's little interjection. She lifted her hand like she was going to grab her face but caught herself at the last second and dropped in, instead choosing to toss her hair back. "They can't do anything right. Just a bunch of failures."
Seeing things getting heated, Fritz started to edge back towards the stairs behind him. "I've got to go see Vanessa and tell her what's up," he said. The animatronics turned to him.
"Mmm-hmm. I betcha do," Monty said. Fritz furrowed his brows at the implication until those shades were tugged back down and the gator winked at him. "Rock on."
Fritz decided to not even risk suspicion by arguing his case on the implication and instead turned and started to head up the steps. Moving briskly but not quick enough to seem suspicious. His eyes darting over to spot Ennard silently climbing up onto the platform and crawling over to Freddy's door. It didn't open automatically, but Freddy was already on his way.
"Allow me to let you out through my green room. It will give me a chance to escort Moon back to the daycare without leaving Chica alone," Freddy offered. Moon started heading up the stairs, but Freddy paused long enough to turn back to Roxanne. "Roxy, I am sorry."
"Not nearly as sorry as they're going to be," she growled. 'They' either being the technicians or whatever unfortunate worker came across her beforehand.
Freddy gave a solemn nod and started to head up the stairs after Moon, dragging his feet as he did. Not as sorry as he was, unfortunately. He couldn't bear to look at Chica again.
"She ain't gonna be up for showtime," Monty pointed out. "Think they're gonna bring down Beelora to fill in?"
"If she is, then she's going to have to replace me too. Nobody's replacing Chica," Roxanne grumbled through her teeth. A replacement was just an excuse to shove Chica in a corner somewhere and put off fixing her. She wasn't going to let that happen.
Monty wisely decided to stay silent.
After dropping Fritz and Ennard off at the door leading up to the security office, Freddy and Moon began the long walk back to the daycare. They stayed silent the entire time. Freddy felt like he needed to say something but every time he tried to muster up words he couldn't. His gaze looking out across the Pizzaplex atrium and thinking about what was coming in a few hours. They would likely be opening without Chica.
Once they arrived in the daycare, Moon turned back into Sun, though without the usual amount of fanfare. More so just a brief pause before they continued along to the daycare doors.
As they were walking up, Sunny noticed a sound that stood out as abnormal in the daycare. It sounded like music from a music box. Tilting his head and rolling his points curiously, he raised a finger to Freddy to stop him and then opened the wooden door.
He stepped inside and looked over just in time to see Marionette raising a finger to his closed smile. He was leaning back on a triangle shaped pillow on the floor. He then pointed down at Gregory who was asleep with his head resting on the Puppet's leg. One of the daycare storybooks was open in Marionette's other hand, so it was likely that Gregory had fallen asleep while he was reading to him.
Sunny's hands popped to his cheeks in delight and he excitedly waved for the puppet to stay put while silently sneaking back out and shutting the door quietly behind him. Marionette went back to petting Gregory's head with one hand while skimming through the storybook to pass the time. Reading about the current adventures of Freddy and Friends and smiling at the innocent stories they told.
Sunny turned to Freddy and excitedly whispered, "Gregory fell asleep listening to a bedtime story!"
"D'aww!" Freddy equally gushed. "That is a relief! I am glad to hear he is getting some rest. He must be exhausted."
Sunny hummed in agreement. They started to head towards the arcade, hearing someone playing games in there and assuming it was the rest of the group. Sunny wasn't quite skipping but there was a little bounce to his step, and Freddy wasn't nearly as sluggish as he had been on the walk over there.
"I do worry about him. Worry about his health, worry about his care," Freddy admitted.
"I worry he's been eating too much trash food. This place is full of junk! The only vegetables I found were deep fried, ugh. He probably ate around 'em."
"Gregory is very smart for his age. I am sure he knows the importance of the major food groups," Freddy assured. "But yes, that too is worrying. Though there are more immediate issues. Such as, after I return with Foxy and if Gregory is still asleep, would you mind helping me in fixing Gregory's hiding spot? The one in Kids Cove?"
"Mind? I'd love to! That's technically daycare space too, you know," Sun pointed out. Though then his voice slightly faltered as he tented his hands together. "Buuuut you know that we're going to have to figure something else out. It's a very nice hidey hole, yes it is, but it's not very hidden. Especially since Chica knows where it is."
"That is true. I was thinking that perhaps we could make him a few more safe spots. So that when he is feeling unsafe, he will have a place to hide nearby. I was thinking we could start by making one in the backroom behind my greenroom. We could use the boxes to block it off and it would be close to my charging station, so I could regularly check on him."
"That is a great idea! We could string up lights and maybe build him a little tent. Jake and I used to make little hidey holes all over the place so if we- oh…" Sunny trailed off, suddenly realizing his hiccup in mentioning Jake. He wasn't supposed to mention him anymore for obvious reasons. So he didn't slip up and say something wrong.
But Freddy didn't even bat an eye. "No, no. Go ahead. You used to build hidey holes?"
"…All over!" Sunny dared to continue. "We used to make little forts out of whatever we could scrounge up. Our little homes away from home! We'd put up lights and build tents, and drag in whatever blankets and toys we could find. Jake used to collect all sorts of toys and little doohickies."
"Just like you!" Freddy said warmly.
More correctly, just like Sunny still did for Jake.
"Right," he agreed, doing his best to cover the slight nervousness in his voice.
"Which reminds me, about your room-."
"I know, it's messy," Sun dismissed with a wave.
"It is not just that. It is not even furnished!" Freddy replied. Unintentionally easing the mind of the Daycare Attendant, who expected the conversation to go in a different direction. "I do not understand why they did not give you a couch and vanity like us. There is plenty of space. And the paint should really be redone, and in both of your proper colors."
"It's no big deal!"
"But it is, Sunshine. You are just as important as we are, you should have a room that reflects that. Perhaps we could talk to one of the workers. Is there a worker you trust?"
"…He quit," Sunny said solemnly.
"Oh… Well, we could talk to someone else! Not Chaz, of course. Perhaps Vanessa? She must know someone."
"Freddy, it's no big deal! Let's worry about Gregory first, then we can worry about me," Sunny insisted.
"If you insist. Well, you two are welcome to come spend time in my green room at any time. It can get lonely."
"Err, uh-us two…?" Sunny asked.
"You and Gregory, of course!" Freddy replied.
"Oh! Oh, certainly!" he agreed.
Freddy was happy with that answer and stepped into the arcade, walking towards the back-
-and promptly walking up on Foxy and Jake playing air hockey.
Foxy and Jake both looked over and Freddy instantly and suddenly jerked back and turned in the other direction, clasping a hand on his face and nearly striding directly into Sunny.
"Whoa! What's wrong?" Sunny asked. Smoothly stepping back in time to avoid the bear walking into him but having yet to notice Jake as Freddy was blocking his view.
"I- I must experiencing a malfunction. I… cannot see anything!" Freddy said, haltingly and very unconvincingly.
Sunny tilted his head a little in confusion. "You- what? You can't see?"
"No! I cannot see anything at all. It is very strange," Freddy insisted.
Sunny leaned over to look past him. "What are you- GAH!?" That's when he spotted Jake. His cry punctuated by his points jumping and his hands splaying.
Jake stared back, still holding the air hockey paddle and looking half-frozen, stuck in place. Looking to Foxy, he was just standing there looking a little surprised but less concerned. In fact, he didn't seem so at all, not with how he was leaning on the table nonchalantly.
Sunny's hands jumped to his head in horror, his fingers grabbing onto his points, and he stole a quick look at Freddy and back to Jake. Then a pause. Then a slow look back at Freddy.
Freddy was still standing there facing the door. He now had one arm crossing his chest so his elbow could rest on it, still rubbing- or covering- his eyes with his fingers. He wasn't asking any questions about Sunny's reaction; he was just silently standing there.
Slowly Sunny's shoulders slouched, and his arms dropped as he realized that Freddy already knew. He didn't even need Jake to tell him about Foxy's hunch. He knew Freddy knew. If that bad lie on the fly was any indication he likely knew for a while.
They all stood there in an awkward silence for a long moment before Foxy cleared his throat.
"Welcome back, Mateys," he greeted.
"Hello, Captain," Freddy replied.
Sunny groaned and straightened up his back with a roll of ticking clicks. Then he gestured a hand towards the pirate. "Foxy."
"Aye?"
"Why don't you take Freddy outside and see if his vision suddenly comes back?" Sunny suggested, clasping his hands together and pointing with them.
"Good idea. Sounds like the sort of thing ye can walk off," Foxy said dryly. He set the air hockey paddle down and strode over, lightly elbowing Sunny with what was likely a smug sort of look before heading by. "A'right, let's shove off."
"Right behind you, Captain," Freddy agreed. He reached back to pat Sunny's shoulder- without turning his head, notably- then followed him out.
Sunny listened to the two walking off before turning back to Jake.
"…He knows."
"Oh yeah."
"Ngh…"
Once they were a good ways away, Freddy turned to Foxy with a proposition.
"So, Captain, I was wondering if you could come with me somewhere. We will not be gone long, but I need you to… see something," Freddy vaguely explained. "…It will make sense once you see it."
"Aye, sounds like a plan. Lemme go tell Mari."
"There is no need… Or, perhaps there is, but Gregory is asleep so if you do not mind…?"
"He'll figure it out on his own then," Foxy agreed. Even if he didn't, he wasn't too concerned with Marionette not being able to track him down. "Lead the way."
Freddy did. He led Foxy upstairs and out of the daycare, and out into the atrium, and upstairs. During which he brought Foxy up to speed on the situation with Chica, but he didn't say where they were going.
Foxy eventually figured it out on his own when they made it to the third floor and began walking in the direction of Bunnie Bowl. He knew what was coming, but he had already had a suspicion that this was coming up. Freddy tended to keep his word.
He also clammed up as they approached the doors. Foxy could feel the tension creeping up but shrugged it off and pressed on. Patiently remaining silent and waiting for Freddy to be ready to speak. Noticing when Freddy looked up at the newly painted rabbit on the wall of the lobby with dismay, then turning away quickly and keeping his eyes leveled ahead. He didn't notice that Foxy had been watching.
The bowling alley was, regretfully, just as impressive as the rest of the Pizzaplex. Foxy hated admitted to how much this place had over his business, but by now he was no longer shocked and instead begrudgingly accepted it. This wasn't the time or place to dwell.
He heard the clatter of pins being knocked over. Following the noise led him not to the lanes themselves, but to the speakers mounted on the ceiling. It was ambience played over an otherwise still bowling alley. A quick glance across the lanes showed each one set in preparation for opening, aligned perfectly and untouched. His eyes then trailed over the screens at the end of the lanes, all of which depicted various advertisements.
Something felt off. Though it could've been from how Freddy was acting.
It wasn't until Freddy walked him into the dining area that Foxy saw the looming red-curtained stage. He stopped on the spot at the sight of it, but Freddy kept on towards the small stage, so he began to follow again. Soon finding himself standing in front of it alongside the bear. Freddy continued to keep his eyes trained on the ground instead of the display in front of him. His silence feeling heavier with every passing moment.
Foxy considered breaking that silence more than once, but he didn't. He waited until Freddy was ready and eventually his patience was rewarded.
"I do not come up here anymore," Freddy said quietly. Looking up at him, Foxy caught sight of the pain in his glassy eyes before he closed them. Still unable to so much as look at the stage. "…I miss him."
And in that moment Foxy had his answer to any question he ever had about Freddy.
Why he avoided the bowling alley even though he obviously enjoyed bowling. Why he never brought up the possible connection between this rabbit character and Vanny. Why there were some questions that he seemed especially dodgy with.
Why he always seemed so lonely even when he had so many friends.
Why he so eagerly accepted Foxy into the Pizzaplex. Why he so eagerly clung to him and this friendship that they had formulated.
It all made sense now. Foxy knew that look and he recognized that tone. Freddy wasn't missing Bonnie; he was mourning Bonnie.
Suddenly all that merchandise dumped in the basement held a new meaning, as did the repainting and renaming of the bowling alley itself. Something that was initially a quick cover for a possible lawsuit was hiding something much worse underneath.
Foxy didn't know what to say. There really wasn't anything he could. Condolences alone weren't going to make Freddy feel any better. He had likely heard them before, hopefully, and the options beyond that were limited.
So, instead, Foxy reached out and put an arm around his shoulders as best as he could. The height difference made it a little strange, but he managed to get his fingers on the opposite shoulder if he tilted Freddy towards him a little. Then he said nothing.
He was taken by surprise when Freddy suddenly turned and pulled him into a hug. It was so sudden, without any warning or telegraphing whatsoever. Freddy all but grabbed him and held him tightly, hunched over, head in his shoulder. At first Foxy gave Freddy an awkward pat on the back that turned into a rub, and then somehow that turned into him caving and putting his other arm around him, hugging him back.
Forget pride, Freddy needed this. He needed to give this to him.
The whole time it was still silent. Freddy didn't cry or otherwise make any noise like a whimper or such. He just hugged him, and Foxy hugged back. Listening to the distant clatter of bowling pins through a speaker, to the slight hum of Staff Bots mounted behind the counters of the diner. Staff Bots who looked concerningly like Baby- he would wonder about that later. Now was not the time.
Eventually Freddy drew back from the embrace and stood before him. He rubbed at his neck almost bashfully, but it was a relief to see that instead of the sorrow the proceeded it. Foxy reached out and gave him a firm thump on the arm in reassurance and the bear's eyes seemed to perk up a little. Into a smile, perhaps. A smile despite the lingering feelings.
"My apologies, Foxy. I did not mean to put that on you," Freddy apologized. Foxy was already shaking his head.
"Don't be sorry," he said.
Foxy was considering saying something more. It rested on the tip of his tongue, the "I know how you feel." There would be no assumption on his part either. He knew exactly how Freddy felt.
But before he could, Freddy beat him to it. What followed was the last question he expected to be asked.
"Would you… like to bowl with me?"
Foxy's ears perked in surprise. "Yer sure you're up to that?"
"Yes. I want to. Unless it will make you uncomfortable-."
"Nah," Foxy smoothly replied, cutting off that thought quickly. "Nothin' uncomfortable about. Except maybe rollin' with me weak hand."
Soon they were down on the lanes and Freddy was searching through the rental bowling balls for ones that would work. Technically the animatronics had bowling balls made especially for them to use, but he didn't want to sacrifice the time it would take to run downstairs, grab his and the other one, and return. Especially when it would likely make things a little uncomfortable given that one of them would have to use…
"Here you are! I think this one should work," Freddy said. He handed over one of the bowling balls to him.
Foxy couldn't fit his fingers into the holes all the way, but it was enough of a grip to satisfy him. Though he did notice that Freddy gave him a noticeably light ball.
Freddy chose a ball for himself as well and turned on the scoresheet screen, to which they put in their names. Then the game began, with Freddy stepping up to the bowling lane.
"It has been so long since I last played. At least, it feels like it. Truly it could not have been more than a few months," Freddy admitted. He held up the ball and lined up his shot. "I may be a little rusty…"
He took a step forward and rolled the baby blue ball straight down the center of the lane, rolling a strike on his first go.
Oh, Foxy begrudgingly realized, it was going to be one of those games.
"Perhaps not as rusty as I thought," Freddy said. Foxy couldn't tell if that was just cheerfulness or if there was the slightest hint of something smug in there.
"Good. That'll make it a fair game," Foxy proclaimed. He took Freddy's place- Freddy politely sat down- lined up and then rolled the ball.
He hadn't given his left hand much credit. After using it so much since he got his hook, he found that he was just as good with it as his right might've been.
That being said, apparently he wasn't quite as good at bowling as he was hoping he was. Taking out a good chunk of the pins but leaving a few stragglers- regrettably a split as well.
"Nice shot!" Freddy complimented.
"I'm just warmin' up," Foxy half-defended.
"Of course, but that was still an excellent roll." Knowing Freddy, he probably was being honest.
Foxy stood attentively beside the ball return and listened as it came up the shaft and watching it roll out in front of him. He started to pick it back up.
"Now Bonnie…" Freddy unexpectedly said. Foxy looked back to see him leaning forward on his knees, but there was still a smile and amusement in his eyes. "Bonnie was an awful bowler."
"No kidding?" Foxy asked.
"I am not! The first time he introduced me to bowling he missed his mark and only knocked down three pins on the first roll. And some nights Roxy could hear him from all the way down in the raceway, using some… not so family-friendly language. But thankfully, never around the workers," Freddy reminisced.
"Sounds like a trip," Foxy said, in a complimentary way. "Ye bowled a lot?"
"Oh, all the time! Bonnie was determined to get better at it before opening, and he did!... Somewhat. But he never gave up, and I admired that about him," Freddy explained. Foxy started to lift up his ball again when Freddy unexpectedly added, "You mentioned once that you used to have bandmates... What were they like? If you do not mind me asking."
That took Foxy only a little by surprise. He didn't expect Freddy to be so direct, but considering the conversation he wasn't shocked that it came out.
"Ain't no mind at all. Fer starters, there was a Freddy Fazbear. Classic Freddy, the stout teddy bear-looking kind. He was the brains of the operation up until we stopped usin' 'em and started pullin' a whole lot of stupid moves. T'was all in good fun- 'less we got caught," Foxy explained with a chuckle.
"I see! Was he like me? I suppose not exactly, we are very different models, but were we similar?" Freddy asked curiously.
"Nah. You two were very, very different."
"Oh."
"Which is a good thing. I loved him to death I did, but he was him and you're you, and that's how I like it.," Foxy added on. Not wanting Freddy to take the wrong idea from that. Apparently, he didn't as Freddy seemed to smile at that clarification.
"I am glad to hear it," he said. "You and Bonnie are also very different… But I think you two would have gotten along well."
Coming from Freddy himself, Foxy took that as a huge compliment. It even took the sting off when he wasn't able to get that split on the next go. He then went back to reciting some old 'pirate tales' about 'shipmates' long lost to time.
It felt good to talk about them again. He knew Freddy felt the same way.