Mable: Sorry this took so long! I had a bit of a rough patch with a writer's block, but it should be all uphill from here!
Going Home in a Box
Chapter Eighty-One
Foxy knew that Ennard wasn't above teasing him just for giggles, but somehow, he knew that he wasn't. He knew when he went to that Pizzaplex that he was going to be biting off more than he could chew.
But he still went back anyways.
Truth was, he could use the night out. He was still upset about this whole Michael thing. Even if they had bonded more over that than they had their entire lifetimes, finding out something like that was hard to swallow. If anything, it was eating at him, gnawing at him when he least expected it.
That's why this night out was so important because he needed to let off some steam. Thankfully, Freddy was more than happy to welcome him.
"Foxy! Hello!" he called through the vent the moment Foxy came into sight.
"Ahoy, Freddy!" Foxy called back. He hurried through the rest of the vent and climbed out. "Ya seem to be in a chipper mood."
"Of course! I am always in a good mood when my best friend comes on down for a visit."
There was something so sincere in the way Freddy said that. So utterly corny and shmoozy, but completely sincere.
"Now don't go gettin' soft on me," Foxy said with a warm chuckle.
"What, me? Never! I am made of too much metal to be soft," Freddy joked back. He beckoned him with a hand. "Come with me to my green room and we can get this night started!" he chirped.
He began to eagerly lead the way down the hall. A little too eager to get going, which Foxy picked up on right away. Though instead of asking directly, he decided to test the waters.
"How's Gregory?"
"He is doing great! Although he will be staying with Sunny and Jake tonight. Which is good! They are finally starting to get along."
"Sounds like that whole joint custody thing's workin' out."
Freddy chuckled happily. Foxy found his silence somehow telling.
It occurred to him then that Freddy was up to something, and it likely involved his bandmates since Gregory was out of the picture. Ennard might've been onto something.
Which meant that the following walk to Freddy's green room was especially tense. Foxy did his best not to show it- the moment Freddy asked about work he went right into a spiel about the business, about the new pizza, about a kid who managed to almost reach his Sit 'n Survive high score, and virtually anything else that came to mind. It sounded like his usual friendly bragging but if he could've, he would've been sweating bullets right now.
He barely gave Freddy room to speak but Freddy wasn't bothered. He saw Foxy's chattiness as a sign that he was in a good mood, and thus his own second-thoughts were quickly dashed.
They soon arrived at Rockstar Row. The curtains to Freddy's green room were drawn as they usually were, but Foxy found himself eyeing them carefully as he followed the bear up to his door. Freddy stopped just out of range so that the door wouldn't automatically open and turned to look at Foxy.
"Would you like to go in first?" Freddy offered. His eyes nearly glowing with excitement.
That's when it became a little too hard to ignore.
"Freddy," Foxy flatly.
"Yes, Foxy?"
"Is yer band sittin' in there?"
Freddy seemed startled at the question. His eyes darted between the pirate and the door. After a long pause his ears drooped, and he drooped, and he gave a defeated, "Yes."
"…A'right."
Foxy made a motion like taking a deep breath and after a long second of considering, he spun on his heel. But instead of bolting off- which was his natural reflex- he instead yanked his hoodie up and over his head and tossed it onto the red velour rope. He checked himself over with hand and hook before turning back to Freddy.
"How do I look?"
Freddy perked up instantly. "Excellent! Very cool!"
"Ya should'a warned me, Freddo. I woulda brought me good coat."
Freddy's eyes down casted apologetically. "I know, I was just… afraid that you would not come."
"Do they at least know I'm comin'?"
"Of course! I wanted to make sure in advance that it would be a completely safe situation. I would never arrange a meeting between you and my bandmates unless I was absolutely certain that nobody would tell on you. They will not, they just want to meet you."
"Chica included?"
"Chica especially! Now that she knows you and I are not… well… together."
"We ain't?! Freddy, I be shocked!" Foxy gasped.
"What?!" Freddy gasped.
"Freddy," Foxy said flatly.
"Oh! Oh, hmm-hmm, my apologies," Freddy warmly chuckled. He turned towards the door. "Now then, are you ready to meet the Glamrocks?"
"Ehhhhh."
"I believe in you! Let us head in!"
This was it. Foxy wasn't sure why he was so nervous about this- lest the animatronics suddenly flip due to programming and start assaulting him. No, he was more intimidated than anything. After all, the only one he had met was Roxy and she was less than impressed by him. He just wasn't in the mood to have a whole band look down on him like he was some relic of the past, some outdated fox-shaped dinosaur.
But Foxy wasn't going to high tail it like a coward either. He was going to confront that band with the confidence of someone who owned his own business. He stepped forward and the door drew back.
Chica was standing directly on the other side. Leaning in like she was intending to listen without trying to trigger the door. She leaned back quickly as the door opened, startled.
"Ahoy, Chica!" Foxy greeted. Putting on a brave face- or a friendly tone.
Chica gave him an excited two-handed wave. She then looked past to Freddy, shaking like she would've been squealing, and held out a hand before bringing it down. Foxy picked up the motion instantly.
"He's so tiny!"
Apparently he wasn't the only one who picked up the gesture either.
"Larger than life is less of a figure of speech and more of a warning for Foxy," Roxy remarked from inside the room.
Freddy gave a good-natured chuckle and planted his hands on Foxy's shoulders, patting them playfully.
"Oh, he is not that small. In fact, he is an original model from the original Freddy Fazbear's Pizza! And he has his own business! And his original hook! Foxy, please, show Chica your hook."
Foxy sticks out his hook with a less than amused look. Chica poked the tip and blinked in surprise at it being metal instead of plastic.
"It is, err, a little hazardous- but Foxy is an expert with it! He has not poked a single child."
"I admire yer restraint," Monty chimed in.
He was lounging on the couch but got up and sauntered over. Roxy, who had been sitting beside him, turned and stretched her legs across where he had been sitting. Monty adjusted his sunglasses with one hand and stuck a hand out with the other.
"Montgomery Gator. You can call me a-err…" He quickly switched hands and offered the proper one for Foxy to grab. "You can call me a fan."
"Really?"
"That's right. Foxy was my favorite back when I was a kid. Yer keepin' him alive," Monty said. They shook hands and then he crossed his arms over his chest again. "Plus I heard 'bout yer deal with yer employees. Yer really runnin' the joint?"
"I'm the captain everywhere but the paperwork," Foxy affirmed.
"Good deal."
"And small world, Foxy was my favorite too! The character really came to me," Foxy added.
"I did not know that!" Freddy said in surprise. "But… forgive me if I am wrong, but did you not say Freddy was your favorite?"
"I was shmoozin' ya, Fredbear."
"Oh! Well, I am flattered regardless then!"
"Important part is-." Monty dropped his sunglasses down his nose to peek over them. "-Who's yer favorite now?"
Foxy chuckled. "Yar har har! I ain't fallin' fer that one."
Chica gestured her arms out to everyone and then pointed with both hands towards the door. Then made little shooting motions with her fingers.
"Good idea! We should get going. We have plenty to do tonight and only a limited amount of time to do it!" Freddy chirped. Monty nodded and Roxy got up from the couch.
"Wait, where we goin'?" Foxy asked. He made sure to sound casual and not suspicious or uneasy at the quick change of plans.
"You are in for a treat tonight, Captain- our treat! We are going to party like real rrrockstars, and our first destination is: Fazer Blast! Then up to the West Arcade, East Arcade, Monty Golf, Roxy Raceway, and if we have enough time, perhaps swing by the daycare."
"And if we have enough time, we'll pick up Freddy's boyfriend," Roxy translated. "Or, sorry, his other boyfriend."
"Don't go that much time," Monty added, fixing his sunglasses.
It sounded like fun. Well, actually, no. It sounded extremely daunting, especially with said rockstars now standing around him. Foxy positively refused to feel like the odd one out. He had every right to be here.
"Yer on, Fazbear! Just as long as yar payin' the tab," Foxy agreed.
"Of course! Or, well… They can take it out of my salary," Freddy said with a little chuckle.
Chica grabbed Foxy by the hook and began to lead him out, waving over her head for the others. This was almost baffling to him. It was a far cry to how he anticipated her to act, but he decided to not look a gift horse in the mouth and went along with it.
He had a hunch he was in for a long night.
…
Roxy bolted down a ramp and hopped down from the landing before ducking behind a glowing wall. Fazerblast maybe wasn't her favorite activity, but she wasn't planning on losing. Not to Freddy, certainly not to the new guy.
She was about to make a move for one of the lower rooms with a lot of cover when she spotted part of an orange foot as someone hid nearby. Suspecting it was Freddy, she made her way over, slipping around and through the maze before ducking down and leaping, landing on one knee and aiming the Fazerblast up.
Chica shot her hands up like they weren't on the same team.
"Wait, what are you doing here? You were supposed to be over in green," Roxy asked, lowering her blaster.
Chica gestured a hand off repeatedly and then made a running motion with her fingers. Either she was running from someone or after them. She looked back to Roxy, her exasperatedly lidded eyes suddenly popping open as she pointed at the red dot currently on Roxy's ear.
"What?!" Roxy turned her head only to have the red dot swipe past her eye, down her nose, and then have a flicker of a laser zap on her chest.
"Ya-har! Tagged Roxy!" Foxy proclaimed. Pumping his fazerblaster holding fist from the safety of the bridge that Roxy had just come from.
That little sneak! He had been following her! She whipped her blaster out and aimed it back at him.
"Oh, you're dead, you little-!"
A dot and flash of red light landed on her extended arm with a light zapping sound. She knew the cause and groaned before snapping her head over.
"Ugh, FREDDY!"
Freddy didn't even call his shot, he just turned and bolted. Chica was quick to take off after him. Roxy nearly did too, but she saw Foxy running across the bridge and made him her target. He ducked and skirted just before she could get a shot on him- getting it lined up but not having a chance to pull the trigger, and too good to lie about it and cheat.
Roxy raced after him, bounding up to the highest platform in Fazerblast and ducking behind a wall as Foxy tried to open fire. This time he missed, and the two took turns popping out and exchanging fire. Back and forth and back and forth, neither willing to back down.
Likely Freddy and Chica were doing the same elsewhere, though not nearly as intensely.
And there was Monty. Now, to make things fair, they broke the teams into three on three. Chica and Roxy were on one team, Freddy and Foxy on the other, and Monty on both. He even had two fazerblasters and just shot indiscriminately, to make up for the fact that he was just sauntering around at his leisure instead of aggressively hunting.
So, Monty charging into the scene and planting himself in the center before boldly holding a fazerblaster on both was totally unexpected.
"Well, well, well. How the mighty have fallen. How the fast have gotten too slooow," Monty cackled. "Zap, zap."
He zapped them both. Roxy rolled her eyes.
"Good job. You just erased your own contribution playing for both sides," she pointed out. Foxy bolted to the other bridge and exit. "And there goes the courageous Captain Foxy."
"Yer just jealous 'cause I got ya," Monty cockily retorted.
"You only 'got me' because I was distracted with him!" Roxy retorted, pointing her fazerblaster after Foxy.
Monty promptly zapped Roxy in the chest.
And then turned heel and bolted at the sight of the look Roxy was giving him. Any smugness quickly replaced with fear as he high tailed it with Roxy short on his heel.
…
It was somewhat into three in the morning and yet they hadn't stopped going. Somewhere between laser tag, mini-golf, and arcade dance machines the concept of time had sort of just lost meaning. Foxy wasn't thinking about it; he left that to Freddy, he knew he could count on him. He was just going to have a good time.
And Foxy was having a really good time.
All earlier trepidations were gone and Foxy trust himself into the center of attention, and he loved it. It made him feel ten feet tall. It made him feel like the jolly pirate he was only pretending to be when the evening started.
It felt like he was with his old band- or how he wanted them to be.
It felt good. Maybe a little too good.
Chica was much bubblier than she seemed in second-hand anecdotes from others, which was a huge relief. She, though silent, was the one who had been steering most of their evening. Despite Monty's reputation, he was very friendly, and hadn't showed even the slightest edge of having a temper despite Foxy being aware of his antics. Freddy was just thrilled his friends were getting along, and Roxy…
Well, Roxy was sort of just over it.
It wasn't that she didn't like Foxy. He was cocky as all get-out and his overly pirate act didn't help his boisterousness, but she didn't mind that. She just couldn't say she was thrilled at how much of the spotlight he was soaking up.
Roxy was not threatened by Foxy. Sure, he had his own restaurant, but it was a fraction the size of the Pizzaplex. Likely not even as big as her salon, let alone her raceway. So, it wasn't worth feeling intimidated by. Especially when she was his replacement. She knew her character was, it wasn't that hard to put two and two together when they were named Foxy and Roxy. It didn't bother her, no, because she had proven that she was way more than that.
She was built for perfection, there was no doubt about it. No competition.
It was just that he was acting like he owned the place. Like these were his bandmates she was the fifth wheel trailing behind because she wasn't going to suck up or let loose. She always thought Foxy was amusingly cocky, but that was a downright awful personality to have when she was feeling like this.
But, at the very least, she was about to get eyes back on her as they finally headed towards Roxy Raceway. Chica had suggested bumper cars. Roxy had no doubt that only Foxy himself would fit into a bumper car, but if it got her back into her own environment- gave her the advantage of the home front- then she was fine walking over there.
Roxy insisted on the second-floor entrance so they would step out and immediately be able to take in the full scope of her raceway. Sure, Foxy had seen it before, but she wanted to remind him.
She passed the others and strode through the security door with confidence. Resting one hand on her hip she waved the other out and gestured out at her raceway.
"Welcome to my raceway," she introduced.
Foxy's response was sudden and entirely unexpected.
"Blimey, what's that smell?!"
Roxy snapped her head to him. She did notice the slightest scent now that he mentioned it, but there was no way he did. Even if he did, there was no way she was copping up to her raceway having a smell.
"Smells like low tide on the seaside."
"There is no smell," Roxy snapped, annoyed at the intrusion. "The only smell is burning rubber: the smell of speed."
"Nah, he's right. There's a smell," Monty agreed. He started craning his head around. Freddy started to wander off, Chica was moving her head like she was smelling for it.
Roxy was starting to get just a little bit annoyed- not embarrassed, annoyed. She couldn't help but believe that Foxy pointed this out on purpose, cheeky little thing that he was.
"My raceway is spotless. It's probably one of the trash cans that nobody dumped out. More people eat here than even in the atrium, the sushi is to die for."
"I believe you are onto something. I believe it is coming from this trash can," Freddy announced. He peeked and hummed in discontent, "You are correct, Roxy. It looks like this one was missed."
Chica was eyeing that trash with her hands up to her chest and fingers tightening like she was barely holding back from racing over there.
Monty noticed. "Aww, no. Come on, girl. You don't want that."
She gave him the 'yes, I do' look.
"Freddy, stop poking around in there. I have the best nose of all of us and I couldn't smell it until you stirred it up. Just lazy workers, as usual. Nobody wants to do their job," Roxy growled.
Freddy sat up abruptly and looked to her, only now noticing that she was upset. He wasn't the only one who noticed but he was the one who spoke up.
"Oh, Roxy. It is no big deal! It is like you said, plenty of guests eat in here and the staff is, err, understaffed. Foxy did not mean any offense."
"Er… Aye-yarr," Foxy awkwardly agreed.
Roxy sent Foxy a suspicious look at that amount of nervousness. Notably, Foxy had decided now to look around instead of her, which she took as an admittance of guilt even if it wasn't one.
She huffed and turned back to Freddy with her hands on her hips. "I don't need a critique on my raceway from an animatronic that looks like a teddy bear, sounds like a chain-smoker, and smells like his brother," she dryly remarked.
That got Foxy's eyes right back onto her.
"What's that supposed to mean?" he snapped.
Roxy rolled her eyes back to him. "I'm just complimenting you on your authentic pirate smell."
Foxy straightened up like he was puffing himself up before giving a dismissive scoff.
"Ya mind yerself when ya talk about me brother like that," Foxy growled. He pointed accusingly at her. "Ya know the only thing that stinks here's yer attitude. You've been sucking a lemon all night," he said. He then shot her a much cockier head tilt and grin. "Arr ya sour 'cause I beatcha twice?"
"You didn't beat me at minigolf. Monty did. I know you have trouble counting on the fly," Roxy retorted.
"Aye, I do. Let's count up together how many times I beatcha. One… Two… Threeee…"
"I won Dance Dance Rebellion and don't you forget it! You've got the moves of a drunken sailor- but I suppose that's on brand."
"Heh, now who's havin' trouble countin'? 'Cause I seemed to recall one little number. One extra number on that scoreboard that ye didn't get!"
It was because her feet were a little too big to trigger the floor and unlike Chica she wasn't practiced enough to work with it. Roxy wouldn't dare admit it though, but she would use it.
"I'll admit it, you did get more points than me. Maybe because it's a kid's game and you're the only one who's under the height requirement," she said. He was about to retort when she quickly interjected, "But that must be useful for your business. I know kids that age get scared easily."
"My business be boomin'!"
"Hey, no offense here. I think it's so great that there's somewhere kids can go after the daycare. Now they can practice for when their ready for the big leagues," Roxy said, flipping her hair.
Foxy growled and locked his eye onto her hair, and spat out, "Ya got Styrofoam lookin' hair!"
Chica raised her hands to her mouth, Freddy gasped, and Monty gave a sucking hiss and slowly turned his head away.
Roxy looked to Foxy like he was completely insane.
"Excuse me?!"
"Ya heard me!"
"At least my fur was manufactured this decade!" Roxy snapped back. "Bite me."
"I could! Mine 'er real!" Foxy snapped, tapping his teeth with his hook.
"That must be why they're so discolored," Roxy scoffed. "That or your age. Face the facts, Foxy. You're old news."
"Roxy, Foxy, please! There is no need to fight! You are both great!" Freddy interjected, trying to break them up. Even when he tried to physically step between them he went ignored.
"And yer just MY replacement!" Foxy snapped.
"And nobody's ever looked back!" Roxy snarled.
"Don't flatter yerself! I'M Cap'n Foxy, the classic! Yer just the scruffy wench they-!"
"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?!"
"I CALLED YA A SCRUFFY WENCH!"
"…That's only slightly better than what I thought you said, and you better thank God you didn't say that or I would be dragging your goofy child-friendly face all up and down my racetrack!" Roxy threatened, pointing down at him. "Stay in your LANE, Little Man!"
"Oh yeah? Well's how about this Miss Hot-Shot with yer tacky makeup and yer roadkill hairdo! Why don't put yer money in that big mouth'o yers!"
"It's money where your mouth is, Captain Crankshaft! You can't even get that straight!"
"I don't care! I CHALLENGE YA TO A RACE!"
Roxy's narrowed eyes widened in surprise and once again Freddy gasped and Monty hissed. Foxy doubled down.
"I've beaten ya twice over at least, and I'll beat ya at yer own game!" he proclaimed.
Roxy's eyes narrowed again. "You've got to be kidding."
"You heard me! Or are ya chicken?" Foxy challenged. He then turned his head and added, "No offense there, Chica."
Chica might've taken offense if she wasn't totally invested, so she just waved it off and watched the ordeal.
Roxy looked less than impressed.
"Have you even driven a go-kart?"
"Have you?"
She narrowed her eyes. "You know what, I don't even care if you haven't. You've got a deal. Winner takes all."
"Aye."
"Looks like we're gettin' some action tonight," Monty mumbled, sounding a little more curious himself.
Freddy was standing there dumfounded with his mouth agape. Roxy pointed at them.
"I'm going to get the karts. You," she pointed at Freddy, "show him how to drive. You," she pointed at Monty, "go get a camera, and Chica," she pointed past them to Chica, "go get everyone else. I want an audience. And you." She pointed now directly at Foxy. "Be ready to mop up your dignity."
Foxy considered taking another shot at her hair, but in the end decided to let his confidence show without more petty potshots. Especially since at this point it was sinking in that he had probably made a terrible mistake.
He had in that instant rationalized that he didn't know how she was built, so it occurred to him that he probably couldn't take her one on one in a foot race. As much as he hated admitting it. Yet it somehow didn't occur to him that if she did say yes to a go-kart then he was still in trouble because he would be totally out of his league. He hadn't even gotten a license to drive before he became a captain, let alone touched a go-kart.
All to defend the honor of someone who wasn't even here.
This was going to go great.
Shortly afterwards everyone had split up. Roxy leaving to get the go-karts, Monty sauntering off to get a camera, and Chica racing off to spread the word- ironically, being the one person who would have the most difficulty doing so. Something that nobody really thought about, not even Chica herself as she hurried off to do so.
This left Freddy and Foxy alone. Foxy pacing in little circles by the track while Freddy stood there awkwardly. Freddy made a few attempts to speak up and stopped short each time, before finally broaching the subject.
"Foxy, you do not have to do this. What if I suggested another round of Fazerblast? Or perhaps a marathon of Dueling Dragons! Or… something else!" Freddy offered.
"Don't think I'll win?" Foxy asked. Not suspiciously, not agitatedly, but bluntly.
"Err, well… I believe that this is your first time in a go-kart, since you have not said otherwise, so… it would be very fortunate for you to master it in such a short amount of time- but that does not mean you do not have a chance!"
"Nah, yer right. I'm gonna lose," Foxy admitted. He stood there pondering it for a little bit before shrugging it off. "Too late to back out now."
"Actually, this would be a very good time to back out! I could message Chica and Monty to stop them, and then message Roxy with my idea. I will even tell her that it is all mine, so she will not know you had second thoughts!"
"I appreciate the offer, Freddy. I know yer lookin' out fer me… but this be about more than a game. This be about my pride." Foxy planted a hand on his hip and laid his hook on his chest, as though preparing for a solemn swear. "I'd rather lose fair than back out like a lily-livered coward."
"That is quite a noble stance," Freddy complimented.
But that didn't mean Foxy was going down without a fight. That relief in Freddy's voice made him a little too aware of what the bear was thinking, and he was quick to correct.
"But if I'm gonna lose this- which I ain't sayin' I am! But by some very slim sliver of a chance I fall behind, I'm given her a run fer her booty."
"That's the spirit!"
A part of Foxy was still holding onto the thin hope that Roxy was bluffing and hadn't ever karted before, and that Freddy just didn't know. That was the only way he could win here if neither of them had ridden on one. But right after Freddy's confident cheer, as though fate was spiting him, he heard the hum of a motor and both looked to see Roxy peeling up on a go-kart.
She looked awkwardly oversized in it, but she drove it like a pro. The kart was dark blue with yellow stars on it and the number five on its front, and she parked it before climbing off.
"You're taking Moon's kart. Both because it's the lightest weight bracket and because it's the only one other than mine that has a full tank," she said.
"Thank ye for the consideration," Foxy flatly replied. He eyed the kart warily. Looked alright, didn't look like it was built for a bot to ride though.
"Now I know your ego gets bruised pretty easily, so I'm going to let Freddy teach you how to turn it on."
"Bah, get out of here," Foxy dismissed with a wave.
Taking that as a victory, Roxy headed off to get her own kart from wherever it was parked, leaving them to work. Foxy studied the kart with a hum.
"Shouldn't be so hard," he said. He climbed onto the cart and fidgeted until he was seated in it, now very thankful that he didn't have a tail. "Show me the works."
"Certainly! Now this peddle on the right is the gas and that peddle on the left is the brake," Freddy explained, pointing to the two.
"Aye. Got it."
"And that little lever right there is the clutch."
"…Pardon?"
"Normally it would be another pedal if it was in a car with a manual transmission, but in this case, it is an easy to reach lever- and fortunately, on the side of your hand! Now, the go-kart has three basic speeds that can be cycled through. To make it simpler, we can equate each speed and gear with what action you may be doing, as this kart does not have a functional speedometer. When you speed up you should shift into a higher gear, but then you may want to downshift when going around corners as you may slow down. If you find yourself stuck and want to reverse, you must pull back the clutch, pull up the break pedal with your left foot, and give light gas with the right pedal."
If Foxy had any weak hope it was quickly dashed at this point. He found himself sitting there like a chump, shoulders slouched, while Freddy kept rattling out directions unaware of the pirate's preemptive defeat.
Eventually though Freddy had gotten enough directions out that he felt confident enough to get Foxy moving.
"How about we start with something simple, hmm? How about driving up to that space?" Freddy pointed to one of the allotted spaces beside the raceway. "Just take it slow and steady."
Foxy flexed his fingers and took a firm grip on the wheel before applying some gas. The kart jerked and he pulled off quickly, before applying it again. His feet were made for running, not for subtle movements, but after a few more jerks he managed to make it to the spot and stop mostly on it.
"Very good! You are a natural!"
"If ya mean I drive like a first-time driver, aye, I am a natural."
Freddy chuckled.
"I'm going to drive around the track a few times. See how she handles."
"That is an excellent idea. I will be right here if you need me, watching you," Freddy assured.
Despite the jerking to get to that spot and the continued jerking to get to the track, once Foxy got on he began to slowly make his way around. It took him a full, slow ride around the track before he had somewhat of an idea about when he was supposed to shift gears, but even then it was either a matter of revving too high or lurching and nearly driving into a corner.
Freddy considered it progress and was yelling encouragements. Foxy was swearing like a sailor under his breath.
Chica had finally returned with none-other than Beelora, two of her Babees, and a mini-Music Man. She pointed them off towards the bleachers for visitors who wanted to watch the races and then to the stairs that led to them. They started to head over together. Beelora moving slowly and carefully on crossed feet while the little Music Man following at her heels. Chica came back over to stand with Freddy who was watching Foxy still practice on the track.
Freddy welcomed her back before looking back out at Foxy and sighing.
"Do you think that maybe we should stop this?" he quietly asked.
Chica tilted her head in an exaggerated way to show she was asking him 'why'.
"I have a bad feeling about this… We were having such a good time together. What if this race only drives Roxy and Foxy further apart?" he asked.
Chica made barking dog hands towards each other, showing them go back and forth, before bringing them together in a shake. It seemed she believed that maybe the fight would somehow bring the two together.
"Well… Perhaps you are right."
Yet Freddy was still unsure and found himself lost in his thoughts. He was really regretting not breaking it up before it came down to this. Because while working through their differences seemed like a surefire way to get them on good terms on paper, he wasn't so sure about it right now.
Freddy, the overwhelming optimist, was feeling a little too realistic about these odds.
He was dragged out of his thoughts by Chica patting his shoulder. He looked to her and she pointed towards the stands. He followed her finger to see none other than Sun waving at him. Him sitting in the front with Nanny Bot standing beside him- who was likely a literal stand-in for Jake and Gregory.
Freddy eagerly waved back. Sun lowered his hand and poked a finger onto the side of his head and sent a quick message.
"How's it going, Papa Bear?"
Freddy didn't want to lie but he also didn't want to stress Sun out when he probably had a tiring day as it ways. So, instead of elaborating with a real answer, he simply gave him a thumbs up.
Sun returned with a double thumbs up as well before turning them over and pointing his fingers and shooting Freddy a heart with his hands.
Oh.
Oh.
He was going over there.
"Excuse me for a moment," Freddy said. He then proceeded to jog right to the stairs and start heading up.
Sun seemed a little surprised by Freddy's sudden bolt in his direction, a little flustered, covering his face with one hand and watching with the others side for Freddy to make it up to the bleachers.
It took him a few moments more as he helped tote Beellora and the Mini Music Man up the stairs before setting them down and continuing right up to Sun's seat. He leaned on the railing in front of him.
"Good evening, Sunshine. I did not expect you to come, but I am very glad you did," Freddy said thankfully.
"Oh ho! I wouldn't miss this for the world!" Sunny replied with a cheeky spin of his spines. "How's he doing?"
"He is doing great! Why, for someone who has never been on a go-kart before, he already drives like a pro!" Freddy looked back at the track just in time to see Foxy driving very close to the wall, and currently fighting with the clutch lever as he did so. "…But of course, one cannot just master go-karting in one night."
"Oh, of COURSE not! Not at this rate at least," Sunny agreed. Him still sounding just as cheeky. He gestured his hands towards Nanny Bot. "You might remember my dear old friend, Nanny Bot."
"That I do. Hello again, Nanny!"
"Nanny wanted to come see the show. And since Nanny was had been on such good behavior- err, helping me. I thought that it would be a-okay for Nanny to stay up a liiittle longer to watch the race," Sunny explained. His left eye began to blink on and off.
"I think that was an faz-tastic idea! They- being Nanny Bot- would certainly not want to miss it! But Sunny, there seems to be a minor malfunction in your left eye," Freddy said.
"I'm winking, Freddy."
"Hello Winking, I am Freddy Fazbear."
Upon realizing that Freddy had actively baited him into that Sun sputtered in indignation. Freddy had a rather playful look in his eyes, looked Sun up and down and took in his adorable little mannerisms, and then turned his attention to Nanny Bot. His eyes brightening up for a different reason now.
Freddy then gave Nanny a friendly wave, waving through her more than at her, and quickly sent out a message.
"Hello, Gregory! I am assuming that you are watching this. Have you been having a good time at your slumber party?"
He got an answer right back: "Yup! Jake let me control the Nanny Bot and I drove it all the way over here! Wish we could see the race better though. The screen's almost as small as my watch is."
This relieved Freddy. He hadn't been afraid of leaving Gregory with Jake and Sun, but he had certainly felt a little bad about sending Gregory off so he could play around with his friends. He knew deep in his heart that it was alright, but he still felt like there was something missing, and that missing piece was Gregory. He would be sure to make it up to him tomorrow night.
Perhaps after he made it up to Sun. Perhaps he could do that sooner than later. Perhaps…
"Perhaps we can find Jake a better screen! The Pizzaplex does tend to dispose of plenty of equipment that could surely be refurbished with only some minor adjustments. It may be against standard procedures but being that it is for a good cause and is repurposing electronics in an environmentally friendly way, we can surely make the exception," Freddy sent back.
"Okay! Just as long as I don't have to get into the garbage again."
"Oh, no. That would be very unsafe and unsanitary. Consider that whole area off-limits… Unless you fall in there by accident. It is very unlikely to happen, but it… very well could." Freddy made a throat clearing noise and pointed out towards the raceway. "But, err, just look at Foxy! He is a natural!"
Nanny Bot looked over. Sunny turned his head too only to have Freddy catch the edge of his faceplate and smoothly turn him back to him.
Before Sunny could react, Freddy nuzzled against his cheek. Carefully, gently, soft enough to feel the tingles of touch but not enough to risk even the slightest scuff on Sunny's face. His mouth just on the edge of the jester's grin and regardless of the feathery contact it was felt. He could feel Sun's little shiver and the squeak that caught on his voice and chuckled, but less like a laugh and more like a low rumble.
"I am very glad you came, Sunny," Freddy murmured. He pressed tighter once more before drawing back, his eyes filled with adoration. "I apologize for not greeting you when you came in. I was so caught up in the thrill of the race that I missed the star of the show."
Sunny was at full glow and his fans were buzzing so high that anyone could've heard them. He gave a nervous, flustered little chuckle.
"Me? Oh, no, no! I'mmm not tha-ha-hat."
"Are you certain? Because I cannot keep my eyes off you. You light up a room," Freddy said. Him boldly running a claw down the edge of Sunny's faceplate.
Sunny gave an eager little giggle. Nanny Bot looked over before very quickly looking away again, either Jake trying to be modest or Gregory grossed out by the sappiness. Freddy took the opportunity to lean back in, only to pause when he heard the hum of an approaching engine. It was Roxy bringing her kart around.
"There comes Roxy. I should get back down there," Freddy said. He reached down and squeezed Sun's hand. "I will see you after the race."
"O-Oh, sure! Yup! I hope so~," Sunny said with a little giggle.
"You too, Nanny Bot," Freddy said- with his own little wink. Nanny finally daring to look back and waving. "I hope you enjoy the show!"
"I'll enjoy the view a lot more," Sun said in a very Moon-ish tone. His head resting on his laced fingers.
Freddy chuckled, a little ruffled himself, and gave Nanny Bot one last smile and thumbs up before heading back to the stairs. Sunny watched him go, reaching up to feel over his cheek.
It was so wrong. It was so wrong, wrong, wrong and Andrew knew it. He knew he was crossing a line that he shouldn't and there was that sick little feeling in his gut that rose up to try and sour this experience.
But he was buzzing a little too high to take notice. To his guilt, or to the one sidling up behind him.
"I wish I had something like you two."
"GAH!"
Sunny snapped his head back and spotted Beelora who had somehow crept up behind him. Likely because she was slowly and carefully tiptoeing around. The Mini Music Man hopped up onto the back of the chair behind him alongside her.
"O-Oh hI!" Sunny greeted anxiously. "How long've you two been there, heh heh?"
"Oh! Sorry! I didn't mean to surprise you. Or to spy, I was just coming to sit down. It would be weird to be sitting too far apart, wouldn't it?" Beelora offered. She sounded a little embarrassed, especially so when her foot slipped as she was lowering herself and she flopped into the seat with a quiet squeak.
"No, no, no! It's fiiiine! We were just- but- fuh- Freddy's just being nice," Sunny excused.
Mini-Music Man clanged his cymbals lightly. It was indecipherable.
"He's very sweet," Beelora said longingly. It was hard to not notice how quietly she had become.
"Ngh…" So much for tiptoeing out of this conversation. Sunny reluctantly turned his upper half around to face her, waving Mini Music Man aside before resting his arms over the back of the seat. "Is something the matter, Miss Bee?"
"I-It's nothing, but… I wish I had someone like that."
"Aww, Bee, you don't need someone to make you happy! You've got your little bees, you've got your own classy arcade- you've got your whole life ahead of you!"
Beelora gave a solemn little "Mm-hm".
"Okay, not enough. Well, let's see… How about… Oh!" Sunny snapped his fingers and pointed to the Mini Music Man. "What about the DJ? He's tall, dark, and hand…sssy? Plenty of hands! Could probably carry all of your Babees in just one! That could be useful."
"He's not interested. I tried once to catch his attention, but he wouldn't even look my way," Beelora lamented. "Which is a shame because he's just so… passionate! About music- we both like music! But he doesn't like ME."
The miniature Music Man turned its head to her abruptly, surprisingly since it was pretty much more a walking toy than a sentient animatronic- as far as Sunny was aware. Sunny was a little less startled by the revelation.
"Hmm… Wellll, how about… Monty?"
"He's with someone. A lady."
"A human lady! Who say's she'll stick around?"
"I… Hmm… No, wait! I don't want to think like that! That would be terrible," Beelora insisted.
"Oh yes, it really would," Sunny said. The slightest sly edge to his voice, but he covered it quickly. "Uh, hmm… Mmm…" He tapped his fingers on the edge of the seat. "There… could be this one guy, buuut."
"But?" Beelora tilted her head up.
Sunny gave an unsure hum before unsurely asking, "So, uh, how important are looks and, uh, smell?"
"…I guess not that important? I just want someone who I can be close to."
"Oh boy, then have I got a guy for you! His name is Michael and he- hey, hey, quit it!" he whispered back as he tried to push off the Nanny Bot's hand that started swatting at him. Sunny swatted back and kept chatting, Beelora watching the scene with a mix of confusion and interest. "He's really lonely and looking for someone to look past that dark and brooding pain and see the softness underneath!"
Beelora seemed intrigued now. The Mini Music Man could only look between her and Sunny with unexpressive, large eyes. Watching every moment of it.
Nearly on the other side of the raceway, Freddy jogged back in time to watch Roxy ride in on her own go-kart. One sized and shaped to fit with the same red, purple, and green color scheme as many did in Roxy Raceway. She parked in the slot Foxy had pulled into earlier before getting off and flipping her hair dramatically. Freddy watched her with a growing anxiousness as he approached Chica and Monty.
"This is it…" he warned. Glamrock Chica nodded, significantly more excited than he was.
"A'ight, I got the camera. But when I say 'cheese', ya'll better blink 'cause the flash on this one's killer," Monty warned. He looked down at the little camera between his claws like he hadn't seen it before in his life.
Chica cocked her head before pointing to Monty's sunglasses and then her own eyes.
"I'd love to Chi, but I gotta keep up the image, and I don't got any more spares," Monty said and fixed his sunglasses.
"Well, if you need spares, I remember that-…"
Freddy caught himself. He had been so close, so close to saying that Bonnie had spares. That they were probably up in his green room. That maybe they could find a way in even though it had been sealed off. It could've been so easy to slip and bring up Bonnie, and then ruin the night. Even Freddy felt the devastation at the thought.
"…Ya havin' a moment, Freddy?"
"What? Oh! My apologies, I was just… looking over there. Ahem. I remember that there is a gift shop here with apparel. Perhaps they would have adult-sized sunglasses."
Chica pointed at him like she was agreeing with the idea and hurried off to the registration office to check, leaving Freddy and Monty to watch as Roxy and Foxy met up, expecting more bickering to break out.
Meanwhile, Foxy finally pulled up alongside Roxy with a semi-jerky stop. He looked to her as though he hadn't rolled up like that, one arm thrown over the back of the seat as he sized her up.
"Arrre ya ready?"
"Let me check." Roxy turned and looked out across the raceway. Over at her bandmates, up at the stands, and sighed. "Not exactly the turnout I was hoping for, but an audience is an audience."
"Hmm. Might be better this way. Just in case ya aren't as lucky as ya expect," Foxy said.
"Says the guy who'll be lucky to get across the finish line with how hard you're grinding those gears," Roxy retorted. She was ready to show him up and turned back towards her group, seeing Freddy and Monty standing there. "Did Chica get back yet?" she called over.
"She did! She went to get sunglasses, but she will be right back!" Freddy called.
"Looks like everyone's here then. Okay, Geargrinder, pull it up to the line and let's get this show on the road. I'm feeling generous, so we'll start with a practice race."
"Aye."
Foxy pulled up alongside hers, only obeying so readily because he was ready to show her up. Roxy got onto her own kart and waited until Chica returned- now wearing a pair of adult sunglasses that she spread wide and secured with a few stickers- and she, Freddy, and Monty went up the stairs and to the second floor railing to watch. Roxy gave them a fist pump and Foxy did a similar pose with his hook before grabbing the steering wheel tight.
"Three laps around, first one across the line wins, no slamming into each other!" Roxy called.
"Aye-aye!" Foxy agreed.
"Countdown starts now! Three… Two… One… GO!"
Both hit the accelerator and tore off onto the track.
At first, they peeled off at the same speed, but it didn't take long for Roxy to get ahead. Largely because Foxy was back to struggling with the clutch- now without the luxury of slowing down and trying to keep speed while shifting, which ended up making it worse. He got only halfway around the track, slowly falling behind, before he wound up driving on the edge of the wall.
Foxy began to swear like a proper pirate and pull himself off the wall, to little avail, as he continued to slow down struggling and fighting with this nightmarish vehicle.
He didn't realize that the race was truly over until Roxy drove up beside him, giving him an incredulous look. Foxy continued fighting the lever and taking out his frustration on it.
"I've already lapped you," Roxy pointed out.
"Why the bloody 'ell does a go-kart have a clutch," Foxy muttered.
"Hell if I know." Roxy looked him over before sighing and pointing down at the lever. "Here's what you do. Start driving and listen. When it starts riding rough, you're going too fast for your gear. You have to bump it up. Whenever you start dropping speed, bring it down. Not all the way to here, but down one level. Do that around corner's too."
Foxy mumbled a, "Erm, eh, thanks."
"Don't thank me. When I beat you, I don't want there to be any doubt that I did it on skill alone."
"Yer so generous."
"Not that generous. I'm still a lap ahead of you."
With that, Roxy peeled out and soon Foxy was on her tail. A little faster than before but still an edge slower. Though there was no lapping her at that point, Foxy knew that.
They eventually pulled up to the finish line. Roxy stopped on a dime and stood up, planting a foot up on the kart, and flipped her hair with her hands on her hips. A victory pose. Freddy and Chica clapped. Foxy rolled up with a much less amused look in his eye. She looked back at him.
"Was there any doubt?" she asked.
"Don't get cocky now. That was just practice!"
"You're right about that. This was just practice," Roxy agreed. A glint in her eye. "It's never too late to back out."
That managed to get a rise out of him. "Belay that an' sit back down. We're goin' again."
"Not yet. We have ten minutes until lights out and I'm not driving around in the dark. We'll give the karts a fifteen-minute cooldown and pick this up once the recharge's over, just in case Moon's kart hasn't been getting maintenance. Which, seeing the state of the garbage around here, I would say it isn't."
As puffed up as Foxy was, he wasn't about to argue to drive in the dark and got out. The two headed to the stairs where they met up with Freddy, Chica, and Monty.
"That was a great job, you two!" Freddy complimented. Chica was making eager gestures to emphasize that she would've been saying the same thing.
"Everyone say 'rock on'," Monty said. He was still standing on the stairs when he lined up the camera for a shot and clicked the button.
The resounding flash blinded everyone standing in front of him.
"ARGH!" Foxy shouted. Him ducking his head and shielding his eye.
"I can't see!" Freddy also cried. Him rapidly blinking and reaching for his face.
Chica planted her hands on her hips and glared at him, blinking rapidly under the glasses- apparently they weren't that thick.
"I coulda sworn I just turned the flash off… Yeah, it's off! Cheap-ass piece of junk," Monty aimed the camera towards himself and posed, snapping a quick photo. Once again there was a blinding flash, but he was entirely unbothered due to his sunglasses' reflection. "What's the point of a button?!"
"I swear, if you do that during the real race, I am going to drive my kart off that track and straight up your snout," Roxy huffed. Her still rubbing at her eyes and blinking it off. "And now I'm seeing a kaleidoscope."
"Least yer seein'," Foxy mumbled.
It took a few minutes to work off the flash, with Foxy sitting on the steps and Roxy leaning on the railing. Chica was helping poke at the camera with Monty while Freddy blinked off the rest of the flash, then turned to Foxy and Roxy.
"You two did excellent. Congratulations, Roxy, and you too did very well, Foxy," he began. His cheer then started to waver, "But, err, are you two sure you want to race again? Why not leave it at this and we can go hit the West Arcade for some karaoke and dancing."
"Freddy, if yer thinkin' we're gonna brawl, that ain't happenin'. Iff'n she wins, I'll accept that an' move on," Foxy said. His brief period of blindness helping in loosening his tongue.
Roxy was a little surprised by that amount of humbleness. Foxy built himself up as a puffed-up hothead with a huge ego, so that pragmatic take wasn't expected. It was much less annoying; maybe even a little relieving.
"Same," she said. There was no way she was going to lose, but she thought it was worth being a good sport and saying it.
This assured Freddy. "Oh, well… then the race is on! I just wanted to make sure that you two would still be having a good time," he said honestly.
Foxy wasn't sure if him losing the next race would be him 'having a good time' but he was willing to go along with it.
Then came the hourly recharge. The lights unexpectedly going out and leaving the raceway in pitch blackness. Freddy headed up the steps and out into the atrium to recharge while Roxy headed into one of the party garages to charge. Foxy, Monty, and Chica stayed on the steps. Foxy and Monty chatting and Chica sulking as she was all but cut off with her allotted messages for the day ran out.
Sun shifted to Moon up in the stands and recovered in time to see Freddy heading out of the raceway. He gave a sneaky little snicker before standing and stepping over the railing.
"I'll be right back," he said. Then he slinked off.
Mini Music Man watched him leave before turning his attention to Beelora. She was leaned over to pat the Babees, who's soft glow illuminated the floor around her feet. He clanged his cymbals lightly and she looked to him.
"Hmm?" she asked. She opened her glowing mauve eyes to peer at him. He reached out with a leg. "Oh! Here."
She stuck out her arms and carefully let him step out between them before moving him into her lap. He looked up to her attentively and she patted his head.
"Thank you for keeping me company," she said. It made her feel much less lonely. He raised up a little with a tilt of his head.
There was a clang from somewhere. It sounded like a metal door.
Beelora turned her head attentively and looked around, but she couldn't see anything in the area around them. Nanny Bot too had looked around but didn't seem to see anything either. The others were still talking on the other side of the room, so they shrugged it off.
Meanwhile, Freddy had made it out into the atrium and let himself into the closest recharge station. The door closed and he shut his eyes to ride out the next while.
It was such a relief to hear that there were no hard feelings! Sure, he knew either would still be disappointed with the outcome, but this made him much more confident that it wouldn't devolve into a disaster. Perhaps Chica was right; maybe this could bring the two closer together. Maybe this night could still end on a high note.
There was a tap on the window of the recharge station. Freddy opened his eyes to see Moon peering in, waving before easily sliding open the door.
"Helllooo~."
"Moon, hello! I did not expect- you to-?"
Freddy was confused and surprised when Moon pushed him back and slid himself into the recharge station with him. Freddy was forced to press to the back of the station as best as he could, but even then, it was a tight fit. Moon used his feet to climb up above him, filling up that space and peering down with glowing eyes and his hands tight on Freddy's shoulders.
It was entirely against any rules and regulations involving the recharge stations. Moon enforced rules, he didn't break them. To see the exception was both startling and exciting.
"What's wrong, Freddy? You seemed so eagerrr to get your hands on me earlier, mm-hm-hm," Moon teased.
Him referring to Sunny as 'me' instead of 'Sun' didn't slip past Freddy either. That too was exciting, another broken little rule.
"Oh no! Nothing is wrong, no. In fact…" Freddy boldly fit his hands around Moon's slender waist and pulled him down a little closer. "This is much better."
He knew from Moon's little 'tch' and slight turn away that he had embarrassed him. Freddy chuckled a little, almost apologetically, and rested his forehead against his chest. Moon was quick to welcome him with open arms, hugging him around the head and neck. His fans kicking in again, his bells jingling softly with each movement; it was music to Freddy's ears, welcoming and familiar.
"Stay," Freddy requested.
"Mm-hmm," Moon agreed, gently tapping his fingers along his ear as he did.
There was something going on here. Neither was entirely sure of what this progression meant except that things had gotten a lot closer in a very short amount of time, and neither had the chance to shop and chat about it. They were just willingly letting this happen, whatever this was supposed to be.
Dangerous, Moon knew. Deep inside he knew this was very, very wrong, but Freddy was convinced that it felt very right.
That was a dangerous combination for anyone's better judgement.
…
Once the lights came back on, everyone regrouped in the raceway. It was time for the race.
Roxy came striding out of the party garage with the confidence of someone who had the place named after her. She made a line towards the karts, with Foxy quickly catching up and matching her pace. Monty and Chica headed back up to the second floor to watch. Freddy and Sunny scurried back in- distinctly pretending like they hadn't come in together- and rejoined their individual groups.
Everyone's eyes were on the raceway. Including Natalie's. Little did the rest of them know, but she had caught wind of what was going down- she caught on enough when she saw security footage of Foxy driving around in a kart- and had taken up residence in the secluded windowed booth on the wall towards Roxy's Salon that looked out towards the racetrack. She had arrived shortly after the hourly recharge finished.
She had dragged up an office chair but couldn't see through the window sitting, so instead she was leaning forward on the window eating a bag of tortilla chips and watching as Smitty stood beside her and Buddy mopped at the floor. It wasn't the best view in the house, but she could see well enough to make sure nothing got out of hand. That was her job, really.
Roxy and Foxy mounted their karts again and turned them on.
"This is it. No more help," Roxy called. Foxy gave a determined nod. "Three laps, just like before. On your mark… get set…"
His hand tightened on the wheel. Her fingers flexed on her own. Her eyes narrowing, his locked onto the track. They were both ready to…
"GO!"
This time when they peeled out Foxy didn't fall behind right away. He kept up, only slacking a little but finally knowing what he needed to do and taking care to do it. But the second rounded turn, Foxy was slightly behind Roxy, but he was keeping up with her kart. There was no lapping this time, but still, it might not be enough.
Foxy could only give it all he had and through his hand between the wheel and the lever as he followed behind her. But Roxy was making every right move, every correct turn, all with the perfect timing. He would need a miracle to win.
That miracle came in the form of Roxy falling behind just the smallest bit. With this, Foxy was able to ride up beside her and with their 'no bumping' rules, this mean Roxy couldn't strongarm him out of the way. He had secured that slot much to his and Roxy's surprise.
It was then that she realized this wouldn't be as easy of a race as she expected. She would have to overtake him, so she hit the gas and made the effort to blaze around him as they approached the next turn.
That was when Roxy started to notice how hard it was getting to turn the kart. It was starting to slow more too and it was clear that something was wrong. She was briefly horrified by Foxy overtaking her in the race before that switched to the horror at the realization that her kart was starting to tilt.
"What's going on? Did my tire go flat?!" Roxy begrudgingly pulled aside in the track's tunnel before leaning over to look. Her eyes went wide when she realized her back left tire was largely deflated. "You've got to be-!... Wait… Wait, what?"
Hearing a hissing, she looked to the front tire and realized it too was deflating. Not as quickly as the back one had, but quickly catching up with her weight leaning on it.
"What?!" she blurted out. She jumped off and began checking the others, and it soon became apparent that every tire was deflating. "Are you kidding me?! What is this?!" she shouted.
She began frantically searching for an answer, and it didn't take her long to find it. On the back tire she located a small round hole in the tire. A puncture mark. One that looked suspiciously like the mark a hook might make.
"Ugh, that dirty cheater!" Roxy hissed. No wonder he was so nonchalant about the possibility of him losing, he was planning something sketchy the whole time. She shouldn't have expected less from someone who's whole image was that he was a thief, pirate coat or not. Now he was thinking he would just steal the race.
She snapped her head back towards the entrance of the tunnel with a sharp glare. Well, if he was going to play dirty, then he wasn't going to be finishing this race. Not on her watch.
Meanwhile, Foxy was blissfully unaware that he hadn't just overtaken Roxy and proved himself the better driver in some fluke. The only way he had a chance of winning was if she messed up and he was banking on it. Now he had only one lap to go. He didn't dare look back to see how close she was as he was so focused on the road. She had to be there though, even if he couldn't hear her kart's motor.
Or that's what he thought until he started coming up on the tunnel only to find Roxy running up to stand in the middle of the road. She had him blocked, and if looks could kill he would've detonated on the spot.
"Fer cryin' out-!" Foxy huffed and hit the brakes.
But he didn't slow down.
It was an instantaneous realization as he shoved that pedal down as far as it could go that it wasn't working. It wasn't braking. He wasn't slowing down.
He was driving right at Roxy, and she wasn't moving and he wasn't slowing down.
In a last second of desperation, Foxy wrenched the steering wheel to try and swerve and the kart yanked to the side before the world suddenly spun. The weight of the kart crushed him and released as it tumbled over itself, him stuck inside and forced to tuck in as he couldn't escape. He couldn't hear anything but the sound of crunching metal and banging as the kart skidded down the track.
Roxy's eyes widened as she watched the kart spiral out and fly towards her.
She was the fastest bot in the Pizzaplex and there was no way she could've gotten out of the way of that. That was the sole thought that passed her might before metal crashed into her face.
Roxy was carried, shoved, trapped beneath the kart as it continued tumbling and broke through the flimsy wall in the side of the tunnel. Foxy registered that they were falling for a split second before he hit the ground.
And then it was over.