Mable: Enjoy!
Going Home in a Box
Chapter Eighty-Six
By all accounts, Mike had grown up too fast. It didn't really bother him much, he had been making up for it over the last few years, but it was an undeniable fact. He had to hit the ground running when he didn't even have his footing yet.
Because of that, Mike's first stint in college had been unfortunately short. He had gotten a scholarship that carried him through the first year, but money got tight quickly. Soon he had to get a job, then two, and the struggle continued even after he stopped schooling. He hadn't ever expected to go back, especially once he found himself at Freddy's.
He just wasn't cut out for it, he thought at the time. Just got dealt a lousy hand; it happened. He got over it and moved on and had been pretty happy with how life turned out.
Now here he was back in a classroom, and this time it was going to be different. This time Mike had a support system, savings, a well-paying job, and a reason to stick around. He wasn't some kid who just left home and was trying to blindly stumble into adulthood like last time, he was just a guy looking to work on some robots.
Confident was a strong word. He couldn't say he was confident about how this would turn out, but he was damn near determined to make it work. He had to for Marionette, Charlie, Fritz and Jeremy, and their business.
This wasn't his first class of the day. This was actually his second, but it was his first robotics class. He had barely managed to finagle his way into this class, but he was eager to see what it had to offer. By all accounts this was the main reason he was here.
A few minutes after he got settled in amongst his new classmates, trying his hardest to disappear off to the side and not draw much attention to himself, the professor came in to begin. She looked to be middle-aged, perhaps in her fifties, with auburn hair highlighted with a few lighter or greyed hairs. She had an angular face with rounded glasses, was dressed nicely, and strode into the room like someone who had done this thousands of times already.
"Good morning, Class. I am Dr. Treadwell and I teach robotics. So, if you're not here for that, you're in the wrong class," she joked in a very curt sort of way. Like she had already said it that morning, Mike noted. "So, let's get right into it. First question, and anyone can answer it: what is a robot?"
A young woman towards the front who Mike couldn't see very well politely raised a hand. Dr. Treadwell pointed her out, offering her the floor.
"A machine that's programmed to do work."
"Correct. What else?"
"A computer?" someone else blurted out.
"I'll take that. Anyone else?"
"It's a bear that likes pizza," someone jeered from the back.
Mike inwardly cringed at the namedrop. Somehow managing to feel secondhand embarrassment considering that Freddy Fazbear just happened to be the reason he was there.
Dr. Treadwell wasn't nearly as impressed. "Cute, but correct. In a matter of speaking."
She then went right into the speech she had been gearing up for.
"When you hear of the term 'robot', you probably expect something out of a science-fiction movie. A person made of chrome manning a spaceship or trying to take over the world. But that's just fiction. In realty, 'robots' are just machines that perform a task, whether that task be assembling parts on a conveyor line or calculating numbers, etcetera. While studying robotics, you will not be studying 'robots'. You will be learning about the stages. The process of building the machine, the mechanisms that perform the task, the programming that outlines what the task is, and maintaining that delicate process. That is robotics. Not the machine, but the men, and women, who man the machine and how it is done."
She shot the class an almost lopsided smile beneath a pair of nearly exhausted eyes.
"If there's anything you will be taking from this class, it will be that robotics go beyond the robots you see on TV. Sorry to burst your bubble if you're expecting to build the next Freddy Fazbear."
There came that wave of embarrassment again. This time because in a way Treadwell was directly calling Mike out, but in a way her words were also reassuring. This wasn't going to just be a training video for Freddy's, he was going to be learning a real skill and getting a real degree. That's what he wanted. He wanted to be good enough to earn that place as a viable technician.
This was the first step.
…
…After a few days it became apparent that he was in it for the long haul.
It wasn't that the charm wore away. Mike was still relatively proud and excited to be back at college, but he was already starting to feel the burn after a few days of classes.
The routine was this: Mike would take morning classes and then head to Foxy's around lunchtime, upon which he would work until closing. Fritz, Jeremy, and Louise could manage the mornings and by time Mike got there Natalie too was usually showing up. Though nobody had pressured her to work considering her second job. Mike on the other hand felt obligated to work to take some of the edge off Fritz and Jeremy who had been incredibly supportive.
Though the most supportive was Marionette. Mike had felt a little guilty spending so much time away from Marionette and regretted having to give up their comfortable morning routine, but he had been nothing but elated about all of this. He was always happy when he came in at lunch, he was curious about what he learned, and he was just the comfortable sort of clingy. Where he was extra affectionate but not in any distress.
Marionette had been doing his best to coerce him into a better sleep schedule as well, which Mike wasn't complaining about. He had even got into the habit of stealthily reminding Mike to take a break at work if he got overwhelmed, and making sure he got quiet time in the evening to study and do any homework. So far there hadn't been too much of a workload, but Charlie had forewarned him that it would likely sneak up eventually, to brace him for that.
Speaking of Charlie, he and her had gone ahead and began their study pact. He would bring the work home and they would learn together. Since she had taken a chunk of the class already, it was more like a refresher course for her. But they were learning it together regardless, and it helped Mike from feeling like he was already in over his head.
They also had plenty of quiet time to work with Jeremy's efforts to break in the new apartment. He hadn't moved fully in- he was still collecting furniture at this point- but he often took his little gaggle over to the apartment to become more comfortable with it. Due to his current lack of neighbors, he was able to move them in and out pretty easily, under the guise of fixing up the apartment.
They were adjusting fine enough, largely he was the one who was still hesitant about fully moving in. Though the promise of Foxy moving in had made him significantly more comfortable.
Foxy himself had gotten repaired and cleaned up after the accident at the Pizzaplex. He had gone back once since then, a few days ago, and from what Mike had heard it had gone well. They made up for the ruined night with another one, but without the go-kart racing. The way Foxy put it they spent most of the night in Chica's green room.
Mike was very happy to hear this. He knew from experience what it was like to just want a night out with a group of new friends; Foxy deserved at least one good night.
All in all, things were going relatively good in the week after the accident. Nobody reported any signs of Vanny, no secret pop-ins, no disasters, just embracing the college lifestyle as a working man.
Today was the first day that Mike had gone to his college classes and didn't have to heads to work afterwards as Foxy's was closed. So, he headed straight home. He let himself inside and turned to shut the door before being ambushed from behind.
"Why, hello there!" Marionette trilled. He wrapped his long arms around him and rested his head on his.
Mike instantly cracked a smile. "Hello, hello. You must be the monkey on my back."
Marionette gave a chiming laugh and coiled a little further around him. Squeezing him like an oversized teddy bear.
"Excuse me, but I am a sock monkey, and I am all over you."
That roused a laugh out of Mike, and he twisted around to return the hug. Marionette easily sliding around him while only barely loosening his hold to do so, and then promptly squeezing him in again. At first Mike hugged back with full effort, but after about a minute he started relying more on Marionette's hold to keep him up. Eventually slacking off altogether and just slouching on him, exhaustedly giving into the grasp.
Maybe he was a little more tired than he thought.
Taking notice, Marionette guided him over to the couch where Mike kicked off his shoes and collapsed onto the couch, kicking his feet up onto it. Marionette dropped onto the couch, sitting on the edge in front of his legs. One elbow resting on the back of the couch to prop up his head with as he watched Mike lay there with his eyes closed.
Mike held out his hand and Marionette offered his own into it. They sat there in a peaceful silence holding hands for a few minutes. He didn't fall asleep, but Marionette could hear his breathing slow as he relaxed.
Once he was certain he got a little bit of rest, Marionette spoke up.
"Are you up to some fun tonight?" he asked.
Mike's eyes opened and his brows shot up.
"Don't look too excited yet," Marionette trilled. "You have tomorrow off, yes?"
"Yes."
"Great! How about we drop in on Hickory Dickory's?" Marionette suggested. Mike noticed his eager smile.
"Huh… I guess that's on the table. Any particular reason why we'd want to go there?"
"It's been a while, and I'd like to check in on how they're doing. What with all that's happening at the Pizzaplex," Marionette suggested. He rested his head in one hand. "Charlie's staying over at Scott's tonight, so it would be a good night for it."
It wasn't that big of a job. They had dropped in a little before the Pizzaplex opened and had managed to get out before midnight, so it wasn't like they were signing up for an all-night project. They'd be spending more time in the car than there. Though it was curious that Marionette was suggesting it now.
"Any other reason you want to go?" Mike asked, wondering if he had a hunch or a feeling.
"I'm bored."
Well, that was a feeling.
"Unless you're too tired. I would be fine with a night in," Marionette offered, not a shred of disappointment in his voice.
"Me? Tired? Nah." Mike stretched for emphasis. "I'll sleep when I'm dead."
"Don't joke like that. We're about to go visit Music Man. That's a very likely possibility."
"The last time we went, we played rummy with Orville," Mike said matter-of-factly.
"Yes, but we disappeared faster than a white rabbit in a megaplex once it neared midnight."
It was comments like that that reminded Mike that Marionette was still dwelling on the Bunny thing.
"We blew out of there faster than a tornado through Hurricane," Mike joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Marionette smiled and leaned further over, playing alone. "We popped our top faster than a bottle of soda."
"We canned that joint faster than a can of tuna."
"We swam out of there faster than a salmon springing upstream!"
"We sprung out of there faster than a jack-in-the-box with a rusty spring up the back end!"
"Mike, that one was horrible!" Marionette choked, breaking into immediate laughter.
Mike laughed- more at Marionette's reaction than his joke- before shooting a cheeky grin. "Tell me I'm wrong."
"That was very wrong," Marionette half-agreed.
Mike snickered a little more before stretching and asking, "But not until later, right?"
"Right!" the Puppet agreed. "Not until tonight."
He tilted his head a little, signaling that he was curious to whatever Mike was suggesting. Mike didn't suggest anything, he just spread his arms to welcome him in. Marionette gave a delighted chime and fell forward, all but diving into his arms and quickly getting cozy on the house alongside of him. Not having to worry about Max watching and just being able to be together.
Mike found it to be a nice reminder of what he was doing this for. For Marionette. He was worth all of it.
…
Up until this point, Scott had pretty much been getting Baby work. He had used connections to spread the word on getting her places at the Fourth of July celebration and otherwise. Baby was aware that he was doing this but wasn't bothered; work was work. A stage was a stage. Scott wouldn't agree to anything that wasn't worth her time or risked her in any way, and they almost always came through his church. Through people looking for someone like Foxy.
This was the first time someone reached out looking to hire on "Scott", or Baby, to perform at their private function, a family reunion. In fact, a family reunion with at least fifty people. Someone looking for a cheaper alternative to Foxy.
This was, of course, a huge deal to Baby. Bigger than any appearance beforehand. This was a stage all to herself in front of an audience paying specifically to see her. It was a lot of pressure all at once.
Needless to say, she called Charlie and had her brought over within the hour.
Soon they were squirreled away in the garage writing and planning new songs and a routine to match them. Progress started off strong at first. Both had ideas they had been hanging onto for a while that they now brought to the table, and the collaboration hit the ground running.
But once it got around evening time the steam started to petter out. They were starting to struggle for the next song. Baby rolling in little circles in her form as pacing as she obsessed over the perfect lyrics while Charlie sat at the little table and tapped at a piece of paper with unfinished lyrics on it with her pencil.
Charlie remembered hunching over her desk working for hours. It used to ache a lot more afterwards than this body would, but that body healed, and this one wouldn't. She didn't want to get a permanent hunch or crick though, so she straightened and stretched her back and neck.
"How about we take a break?" she offered.
"This is no time to procrastinate, Charlie. We have a budding disaster on our hands."
"We're not going to procrastinate, we're just going to take a break," Charlie insisted. She got up, showing she was determined to do so, and stretched her arms over her head. "How about a movie?"
"That is a little more than a break," Baby said with a small scoff. "…Which movie?"
"We'll have to look. But hey, might give us a little inspiration."
"That seems a little like cheating."
"That's like saying talking a walk for inspiration is cheating because the sky already exists," Charlie rationalized.
Baby narrowed her eyes in befuddlement at the jump in comparison, but Charlie smiled, and Baby gave up any further protesting. She simply rolled up over to her.
"A short break," she agreed. Charlie agreed with a thumbs up and opened the garage door, letting Baby step in first before following in.
The TV was free since Michael and Ennard were at the dining room table playing a game. Bonnet sitting on the table beside them watching them go. Scott was holed up in his office working as well. This really was the best time to do this, Baby supposed, and though it felt like giving up to stop, she could tell that they weren't getting any further unless they reset.
She sat down on the couch, pulling one leg up onto it and resting her back and claw on the armrest. Charlie went over to look through Scott's selection of VHS tapes.
"What are you in the mood for?" she asked.
"Nothing painfully dramatic," Baby replied.
Charlie agreed, and she looked for something a little more lighthearted. Or at least something that wouldn't require too much brainwork to process. Something feelgood.
"Babe?"
Baby blinked and tilted her head. There was a nickname Charlie hadn't used before. "Hmm. Yes?"
"No, Babe. The Pig. Want to watch Babe?"
Oh. Baby tried to not sound disappointed- well, except about the movie choice. "Aren't we a little old to watch a movie about a pig?"
"No! Not Babe the Pig, it's great! Have you seen it?" Charlie asked. Baby gave her a lidded look, like 'of course I haven't. "We're watching it," Charlie said with finality.
"Fine."
"YAHTZEE!"
"Goddamn it."
Good to see that Ennard and Michael were still nice and distracted. Baby would hate to have them think that she was willingly watching a children's movie.
Charlie put the movie in and fast-forwarded past the commercials before racing over to sit down beside Baby cross-legged. Said clown started to move her leg only for Charlie to push it back. "No, no. You're good."
Baby was a little relieved honestly and adjusted to get comfortable again before looking to the screen. It wasn't long before the movie started.
"It's not a cartoon," Baby said with mild surprise.
"Nope!" Charlie affirmed.
Perhaps this wouldn't be so bad then. Or at least not so embarrassing if Ennard and Michael walked out.
Then the pig started talking. Well, she would trust Charlie and keep watching.
…
Hickory Dickory Doc's looked about the same as they remembered it from the outside. By time they arrived there was no cars there either, so either there wasn't a security guard, or he had someone drop them off. Not comfortable enough to go barging in without checking, Mike stood outside the back door as Marionette headed in to check.
He returned shortly afterwards and unlocked and pushed open the door from inside. The primary security system didn't kick in until midnight, so this didn't set off any immediate alarms just yet, unless there was a silent alarm.
"I don't think security guards will be a problem," Marionette said mysteriously. He beckoned Mike in. "Come see for yourself."
That got Mike curious, and he followed him inside.
It looked like there had been a slight overhaul to the building. There were more tunnels- the best example being the fact that there was a tunnel leading immediately above the door. But more than that, some of the machines had been taken out and replaced with new and clean ones. There were even some basketball and ring toss games that Mike didn't remember being there last time.
But the biggest change was the security office. The office, which initially looked like a refurbished prize counter, had been refurbished back into a prize counter. A multitude of prizes hung from the ceiling of the cubical and on the walls and were stacked in the counter. It was impressive, almost as impressive as Marionette's own.
Marionette must've noticed too as he tapped his fingers thoughtfully and scanned all the trinkets.
"It's about time they got one of these," Mike remarked.
"And I for one think it's a major improvement," the Puppet added. "You?"
"I think it works a lot better as a prize corner than a dead end," Mike said with a little grin.
"Was that a pun?"
"You know it was."
"Are those voices I hear?" a kindly older voice called from nearby.
Both turned back to the stage to see Orville pushing through the curtains.
"Evening, Orville!" Marionette greeted with a smile.
"Oh ho, good evening to you both! I was wondering when you would come by for a visit again," Orville greeted cheerfully. He gestured to the arcade around them. "Have you seen the renovations?"
"We're taking a look at them right now," Mike said. He got a quick look around, starting to notice the big and subtle changes from when he worked here. He pointed a thumb back at the prize counter. "I take it there isn't a night guard anymore."
"No, no. No more. The last one quit and the powers that be decided that a security system would work better than hiring another one. Have you noticed the new cameras? See if you can find one, they're hidden very well!
Mike looked around for the cameras and spotted one on the ceiling tucked in the corner of the climbing tunnels.
"There's one," he said. Then shot the camera a finger gun and a wink, knowing that all it saw was static.
"It's no trouble at all! I distort any camera footage I'm in, so as long as we stick together nobody will notice a thing," Marionette explained to Orville while hooking his arm around Mike's.
A good excuse to keep him close he supposed and Mike guessed.
"Speaking of soulful musicians, where's ol' black eyes?" Mike asked.
"I am glad you asked. Follow me!" Orville stepped down from the stage with a soft 'oof' and started heading towards the dining room doors. Mike and Marionette followed after him, still linked together.
Right before they got to the door, Mike got a chill like someone was watching them, but before he could voice it Marionette turned his head around to look. All he caught was a glimpse of something before the curtains fell back together. Mike caught even less, only seeing the rustling curtains. Both knew someone had been watching.
"Who was that?" Mike asked.
"Oh, that is… Well, a friend of mine," Orville explained.
"They bought a new animatronic?" Marionette asked, still watching the curtains. "One like us?"
"They did. I'll see if I can introduce you, but he is very shy," Orville simply said. He sounded more concerned than nervous, so it seemed worth taking his word for it.
Marionette stared for a moment before turning back ahead. Mike and him exchanged a look, if only to double-check that they were content leaving it be, and then they headed into the dining room.
The dining room had already been getting cleaned up in recent time, but since last time it had gotten a complete makeover. With a new paint job, extra tables, and tablecloths stylized in a casual family dining theme.
"Welcome to our new and improved dining room! Now fit for dinner and a show!" Orville proclaimed.
Mike whistled; Marionette chimed.
"Wait- is that?! Could that be?!" Music Man's voice echoed from the far right of the room.
The stage too had been cleaned up, now with fancy blue curtains with golden edges. Something was pulled behind them, likely a rope, and they drew open to reveal Music Man himself standing inside. He looked about the same as usual, save that someone tied a blue scarf around his neck. It looked a little out of place, but it matched the curtains well enough.
"My Silver Bell?!" he called, looking around wildly.
"Sorry, Man. Your princess is in another castle," Mike replied.
"…Oh. Well, I suppose it is good to see you two too."
Mike raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Of course! For now, you can see my brand new stage!" Music Man replied. He began to eagerly, but rhythmically, clash his cymbals together. "Look at this place! And all for me?! Now this is what my talent deserves!"
"It's very nice. Much nicer than the last time we were here. Oh! Mike, look! There's a buffet now," Marionette chimed, pointing out the tray lined table.
"And I don't have to compete with the arcade games anymore! The guests come here, they sit down, and they must listen! I am the distraction to help them digest and encourages seconds and thirds! My services are a vital part of keeping this business afloat."
Everyone, including Orville, knew he was exaggerating but nobody felt the need to shoot him down.
"Now that being said, I would appreciate you two not setting me off if you plan on staying after midnight. If I break anything in here, I may lose my very important position! You understand."
"Don't worry about it. We'll be taking off before then. No trouble tonight," Mike said.
"We may go explore the arcade a little more. Would you like to join us?" Marionette offered.
"I'm afraid not. I need to get in at least six hours of shutdown time to be fresh for tomorrow's opening! Perhaps next time. Come on a Sunday night, Monday's are closed."
"We may take you up on that offer! Best of luck to you, Music Man. It's good to see you getting the treatment you deserve," Marionette said kindly.
"It truly is!" Music Man agreed.
It wasn't clear if Marionette was wary of the dining room due to his sorrowful memories of what happened there or was just fed up with the constant cymbals. Either way, Mike wasn't going to argue. Music Man made it clear that he wanted to rest and there wasn't too much else to look at here unless they yanked open the fridge.
So, he turned to lead the way out, with the Puppet and the Elephant following behind. Orville giving a call of, "Good night, dear friend!" as they headed out.
Mike pushed his way through the dining room doors and came to a dead stop so suddenly that Marionette, who was looking back at Orville, ran right into him.
"Oh, sorry," Marionette apologized. "Is there-…?"
He cut off as soon as he saw what had caused Mike to stop in his tracks.
There was an animatronic standing on the edge of the stage. One just about Orville's size with a relatively similar build, a padded purple body, a nearly matching flower on his chest, and large blue eyes. And fingers twiddling together at his front almost nervously.
But it wasn't the fact that it was a new animatronic that caused Mike to stop. It was the fact that it was an animatronic he recognized.
"Ah! There you are, my friend!" Orville greeted. He hurriedly shuffled his way to the stage and stood alongside it. "Mike, Marionette, allow me to introduce you to our newest performer and my dear friend, Mr. Hippo!"
"Wait," Mike said. He blinked in disbelief. "Wait, whoa. You're the hippo from Magictime."
"Correct! He was part of that band just as I was," Orville explained. "Say hello, Mr. Hippo."
"Let me say a little more than hello. Let me say that it's a real honor to see you two again. I've- I've heard of all the good you've done for my friend Orville here. Or at least, how you helped those poor bots that were here before us. There's not a lot of people who would see walking talking bots and not only assume that they were real but would see them as a real person and offer that helping hand. And, you know, we all need a helping hand sometimes. Especially you, Mike. Not the needing a helping hand part, but the seeing bots and assuming they're just as real as people are. Let me tell you, that's not something you see every day."
If his design didn't seal it, then that ramble would've been a dead giveaway.
"…When did you wake up?" Marionette asked. Almost distantly, almost meekly.
"Not too long ago all things considered. But, eh, what is waking up? I was already awake, you know. Well, of course you know. You used to be awake too. We're all awake and then everything stops. I guess it could be seen like a dream, but I don't know. It's less like waking up and more like… like the moment you get sober. Now you might not know that comparison but believe me, it's something."
"But you weren't alive when he, uh… borrowed your body?" Mike asked, gesturing his head towards Marionette.
"Oh, no. I wasn't."
So, it was a recent death, and Mr. Hippo's lack of a ramble seemed to suggest that he wasn't interested in chatting about it.
Marionette recovered somewhat, regaining his default smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you here then, under better circumstances," he said. He floated up to offer his hand in greeting.
Mr. Hippo noticeably hesitated before he took it, but then he shook it. Eerily quietly until they parted. "It's a pleasure, let me tell ya."
Marionette lowered again and Mike took his place, offering up his hand, waiting to see if Mr. Hippo hesitated for him too. He did, but this time it wasn't as obvious, and could've also been because he had to bend over without risking his balance to fall off the stage.
"Mr. Hippo and I are preparing for our own show! We thought it might be nice to have something between the Hickory, Dickory, Doc performances. They do repeat the same jokes," Orville said with a wink.
"Think anyone'll notice if you start using new material?" Mike asked.
"Perhaps, but I don't think anyone will be able to tell if we weren't programmed to or not. They know we are part of a set."
"Good point."
Silence.
Mike cleared his throat.
"I guess it's about time for us to get moving," Mike said. He looked at his watch. It was still pretty early but still late enough to leave. He looked to Marionette next and found him staring at Mr. Hippo again, in that spaced out existential thinking sort of way. "Oh yeah, definitely time to get moving."
"Are you sure? Why, by my accounts it shouldn't be midnight for another forty minutes or so! Why not try a few of our new games before you go?"
"Well… Huh." Mike considered it for a moment.
They had driven all the way out here and if they left now, they would just spend the whole drive thinking about the elephant in the room- the one who wasn't literally an elephant. It seemed like a waste of a drive to not at least do something before they left.
"You know what? Sure. I saw you had air hockey."
"Help yourself! There should be some tokens in the Prize Counter, use as many as you'd like!"
"Come on, Stripes. Let's go knock some plastic around," Mike said. He put an arm around Marionette and began to lead him away. The Puppet quickly snapping out of his trance and eagerly accompanying him.
Thankfully Orville and Mr. Hippo gave them space. Getting into some very wordy conversation about Magictime Theater- Mike had slowed a little bit to make sure they weren't talking about them, and they weren't.
After getting some tokens, they arrived at one of the air hockey tables. Even with the renovation it was a little on the cramped side. Enough elbow room but little more than that, and with, again, new tunnels leading overtop. A whole maze of new tunnels. Mike toyed with the idea of suggesting he and Marionette go check them out, but he didn't want another situation of time running out after they got lost in them.
"Something on your mind?" Marionette asked, noticing where Mike was looking.
"You mean other than the tunnels scraping the top of our heads? Not a thing," Mike joked back.
"There are quite a few of them. Maybe even more than at the Pizzaplex, just packed together more tightly," Marionette remarked. He got a playful smile. "I'm up for it if you are."
"There's no way I'm sleeping in a plastic tube again."
"But it's so fun though!" Marionette chimed. He gave a teasing wave and took his place at the other side of the air hockey table, watching as Mike put some tokens in to start the machine. "Fun fact but I heard once that either Michael or Gabe hit an air hockey puck so hard that it flew off and hit the other in the face."
"No kidding, really? Which of them had the arm to do that?"
"I'm not sure. Gabe wouldn't say and I didn't remember until right now, so I haven't asked Michael. So, either Gabe's covering for an little oops or he doesn't want anyone to know he got struck by a puck."
"Hey, knowing Foxy it could've been either," Mike said. He slid the second paddle across the table to Marionette. "Have you played before?"
"I don't think I have."
"Then I'll go easy on you."
Mike set down the puck and, despite knowing he should've fairly put it in the middle, knocked it across the table. To his credit, he knocked it slow enough for anyone to hit it.
"Mr. Schmidt, I think you forget that my reflexes-." Marionette smoothly reached out and knocked the puck back. "-Are quite sound."
"No, your arms are just long. Gives you an advantage."
"I don't hear you complaining."
"What part of 'gives you an advantage' didn't you hear?"
Marionette chimed and hit the puck sharply to the side, causing it to bounce erratically back and forth towards Mike's side at a rapid speed. It made a beeline right for his goal.
Only for at the last second Mike to suddenly shoot his arm out, not that far at all, hit the puck with one firm clunk and send it zipping right across the table and straight into Marionette's goal.
The Puppet looked down in surprise.
"Oh."
Mike had a smug grin but didn't say a word.
"Well then!" Marionette lifted the puck out with his telekinesis and a twirl of his finger. "I guess it's time to put those advantages to use."
He dropped the puck back into the center and the game was on. It was a fierce game too. Not a friendly spar, but a spontaneous battle between two people with competitive streaks that just decided to show up.
The winner was, much to Marionette's amusement and dismay, Mike. Best out of five and Mike managed to secure the final victory by one point. Marionette was a gracious loser, congratulating him with a smile. Though both knew if it wasn't for the time constraints that he would've been the first to suggest another game.
Speaking of time constraints, Mike checked his wristwatch and Marionette his internal clock and both decided it was time to go. They weren't cutting it that close, but neither was looking forward to another situation where the door locked on them right as they were heading out.
They returned to the prize corner to find Orville and Mr. Hippo now standing there, with Mr. Hippo having not paused once in his talking until they came up around the corner. Mr. Hippo fell silent, and Orville noticed and turned to look, gesturing a hand to them.
"There you both are! That was quite a game, wasn't it? Why, we could hear your clatters from all the way over here! Who won?"
Marionette gestured to Mike who raised a hand.
"Excellent work, my boy! Where to next?"
"Home. Sorry to bail so soon but we don't want to get stuck overnight. Already promised Music Man we wouldn't get up to anything," Mike explained.
"Is it that late already? Well, we were glad to have you. But before you go, I have something for you. One moment, please."
Orville stepped behind the counter and started scuffling around. He could be heard clattering and dropping something, but before anyone could offer to help him, Mr. Hippo spoke up.
"Hey, before you go, I just wanted to say… C-Come over here for a second."
He beckoned Mike towards the stage, briefly looking at Marionette to signal he meant him to, and then stepping over the no more than seven steps to the stage. Mike and Marionette followed, one with his guard up and the other with his head slightly tilted. Mr. Hippo was fidgety as they stopped in front of him.
"I just wanted to say… look, we all make mistakes. Sometimes our whole lives are just one giant mistake after another. But you don't always regret mistakes. Sometimes a mistake turns out alright and then you call it luck or something like that, but my point is… That I regret a lot of my life. I made a whole bunch of mistakes, and I can't really say any of them were all that good," he began.
Marionette slowly straightened his head and listened intently. Mike was listening and trying to figure out what exactly he was talking about. What happened at Magictime? What happened here?
"I-I wasn't a good person and I don't want to be that person anymore. In fact, from now on, I am committing my life- well, that is, my afterlife- to being a better person! Starting with being Orville's friend. And that doesn't change what I've done, but maybe, just maybe, someday I will make up for all I have done. But it has to start where it ended, with you two."
Somehow the plush hippo with limited facial expressions looked truly remorseful. "I'm sorry."
Mike was still hanging on his words. That was a confession if he had ever heard one.
Where it ended, with them… He must've been one of the haunted animatronics who attacked the nightguards. One Marionette brought to life. That had to be it, because otherwise he sure wasn't Dave. Couldn't be him.
Mike forgoed properly processing the rest of that and spoke up to break the silence, "Don't beat yourself up about. It wasn't anything in your control. Just like with him, when it reaches midnight something else takes over. You can't blame yourself for that."
Marionette looked to Mike in surprise but didn't say anything.
"We all have some amount of control in what we let ourselves become, Mike," Mr. Hippo said defeatedly.
"Maybe… You're right, we do. But I think people can change. I know people can change, I've known people who changed. So, I don't think there's an end all be all. You're not too far gone until you're not willing to come back, you know?" Mike rationalized.
Mr. Hippo seemed surprised. Or at least his eyelids raised like he was. "You are very smart for your age, Mike. Thanks. Maybe it's about time I learned some of that myself."
As if waiting for his cue, that was when Orville stepped in.
"Marionette," he began. The Puppet turned towards him and he held out his hand, a silly little Orville head keychain in his palm. "Please take this keychain as a symbol of our appreciation for your protection."
Marionette's eyes started glowing at that. Mike could hear the subtlest gasp from deep inside of him. Not one of surprise but almost one of relief, like someone gasping in their breath after holding it for so long. It was an odd response, but Mike knew Marionette's body language enough to know he wasn't upset. Marionette reached his hands out and graciously accepted the keychain, clasping it between them.
"Thank you…"
"You are very welcome! Good show and keep up the good work!"
With a few more casual goodbyes, Mike and Marionette were heading out towards the back door. Sending one more wave back at the jolly elephant before they disappeared behind the arcades and headed outside.
Soon they were getting into the car. Mike was in the process of pulling on his seatbelt when Marionette held out the Orville keychain.
"Can you put this on your keyring, please?"
"Sure, but don't you want to keep it?" Mike asked, taking the keychain.
"I do, so I figured I'd put it somewhere close where I can see it all the time," Marionette replied.
"Fair point." Mike started to work the keychain onto his keyring. "So, what was that back there with Mr. Hippo?"
"A man with many regrets," Marionette said with a sigh.
"I don't want to try dredging it out tonight after how open he was being, but sometime we need to find out how exactly Mr. Hippo came to life. There's got to be a story behind that."
"Mike…" Marionette said quietly. "…That was Dave."
He knew it.
Mike wasn't even shocked. He knew it, he was just holding out hope that he didn't. He sighed through his nose, almost in defeat.
"Are you sure?" he asked. Knowing from Marionette's tone that he was sure and giving away from his own resigned tone that he knew that.
"As sure as I can be. He said he wasn't a good person. He was apologizing to us."
"…That sure sounds like Dave," Mike mumbled. Not the Dave they knew but one who was set free of Afton's control and, for lack of a better term, 'sobered up'. Mike got the keychain on the ring and put the key in the ignition but didn't start it yet. "What do we do?"
"What can we do?" Marionette asked.
They exchanged shrugs and Mike started the car before backing up and quickly driving out of the parking lot. Within moments they were back on the road heading home.
"I suppose… I'm glad he's in a better place… Mentally, I mean. Not Hickory Dickory's," Marionette continued.
"Hey, Hickory Dickory's cleans up pretty nice. Especially for a place where Music Man's working the dining room."
Marionette chimed with a little laugh. Then he sighed.
"I hope he means what he said about changing."
"He sounded pretty convincing, but who can tell?" Mike said. After a beat he added, "He didn't have to tell us and went out of his way to do it, so that must mean something."
"That's true. Dave had problems, Scott said as much… but what he did to us and those children, that wasn't him. That was William." Marionette turned to look back at Mike. "For that we owe him a second chance."
Mike, usually the cynic of the two, gave a rather optimistic, "Then he's going to get one."
Marionette smiled and Mike glanced back and returned it. The mood in the car lightened up again.
Or at least, Mike thought it did. But then Marionette spoke up.
"I don't want to dwell on this, not when we're having such a good night, but I must get this out before I start getting hot again," he suddenly admitted.
"You're already hot," Mike reflexively added.
"Yes, I am. But beyond that," Marionette said, getting an amused smile that then became worried. "Do you know why Bunny makes me so nervous?"
And with that the rabbit returned to the conversation, but this time the Puppet was trying to open up about him. Mike eagerly eased that door of communication open before it could slam shut.
"Why's that?"
"Because, well… It's been bothering me, but if what Jake and Sunny say is true, he can do something that even I can't do, move souls. That's something that only Henry could do. That's what Henry did during our altercation at the warehouse. He pulled me free from my body- momentarily, but he still did it. That's a scary power to have."
Mike felt his heart clench. "Do you think Bunny could do that?"
"Perhaps, but I would just get back to my body. That's not what I'm worried about," Marionette said. His voice quieted, "I'm afraid he might be the reason why there are so many living animatronics in the Pizzaplex."
Despite Marionette's assurances, Mike felt a sinking feeling in his gut. That familiar twisting and churning sickness that crept up whenever the panic was soon to follow. He didn't want to overreact to this but all he could think about was what Jake and Andrew said about Bunny, their warnings about how he would lash out at Marionette. That was an extremely dangerous combination.
It wasn't going to happen. Vanny and her little buddy would have to get through him first, and Mike wasn't going anywhere.
Unfortunately, it didn't settle his stomach any.
"Why were you thinking about that? Because of Dave?" he asked.
"Oh, I was thinking about it long before we got here, but talks about Dave and the purple monster under the bed we're trying to not bring up reminded me," Marionette brushed off. "But again, I don't want to fixate. Let's do something else, something fun."
"Something fun?"
"Something to pass the time, get our minds off of this."
Something fun. Something distracting. Mike could get on-board with that right now.
Mike patted on the steering wheel for a few seconds before glancing to Marionette. "We're almost home," he said.
"Yes," Marionette agreed.
"And we're making pretty good time."
"That too," Marionette agreed again.
"…You want to pull over and take this into the backseat?" Mike asked.
The Puppet looked to him in surprise as a sly smile crept onto his own face. Marionette's own expression becoming much more flustered.
"Why, Mister Schmidt! How very bold of you," he said.
"I know."
"…Well, maybe we could spare a few minutes."
The car veered as Mike immediately pulled off.
"Of course, you know this is very dangerous. Middle of the night or not, someone could come by!"
"I know. That's what makes it fun," Mike said with a wolfish grin.
Apparently, that was the only encouragement Marionette needed as he easily slipped back between the seats and into the back, pulling the blanket halfway over his shoulders in case he had to quickly hide.
Mike squeezed between the seats. His right foot catching on something and him falling through, barely catching himself on the backseat and the passenger's seat. His face still falling into Marionette's soft chest. The Puppet's trill vibrated against his cheek as he hooked his hands under Mike's arms and helped pull him up into place.
In this lighting, or lack of it, Marionette looked downright ethereal. The soft shadows caressing his mask and his smile filled with adoration. He was something incredible, he always was.
Mike leaned in and started to kiss along his chin up towards his cheek. His fingers sinking into the Puppet's soft, warm fabric.
"Miiiiiike,~" Marionette chimed as he wrapped his arms around him and held him close. Nuzzling back against him and indulging in this moment of warmth and comfort.
Getting kissy and cuddly in the back of his car with a human-sized plush toy who just happened to be the love of his life.
Mike was truly a lucky guy.
…
Charlie woke up to something heavy falling on her chest. Her eyes alit and darted around as she struggled to sit up under the weight.
It only took her a couple of seconds to realize the heavy thing that landed on her was Baby. If the gasp from the clown was any indication.
It took the equally startled Baby a few seconds more to push herself up from where she had fallen, giving Charlie a little time to piece together what had happened. She had a blanket draped over her while Baby had Scott's jacket tucked around her shoulders, with it falling as she straightened up.
They had watched a couple of movies and had been talking and watching TV for a while, and at some point they must've nodded off. Charlie didn't remember it, and she was surprised Baby too had fallen asleep. And considering the time, surprised Baby kept herself upright for that long.
"We fell asleep," Charlie said.
"Yes, I figured," Baby agreed. She noticed Scott's jacket and pulled it back up onto her shoulders, noticing the television screen in the process. "…What on earth is on TV?"
Charlie looked over. "…I think it's an infomercial."
"Fitting," Baby remarked. Saying it more like a cover than actually commenting on something.
She searched for the remote before grabbing it off the floor and beginning to flip around. She hummed at the lack of anything of interest and stole a look at the clock. That explained it, it was in the early hours of the morning. The only thing on right now was informercials, soap operas, and the occasional sitcom rerun.
"Well, we chose the worst possible time to wake up," Baby remarked. Still refusing to meet Charlie's gaze.
Charlie stretched. "Maybe we should just go back to bed."
And then she suddenly had an idea. An idea so intriguing that she froze mid-stretch. It was a peculiar idea, a risky one. One that she should've been ashamed of if she had any shame. A curious little idea.
"I suppose you're right. Perhaps if we wake early enough, we can get more work done with fresh minds before you leave. We do our best under a harsh time limit, don't we?" Baby asked.
"Yeah," Charlie agreed. She gave a weird little laugh and went quiet.
Baby finally looked to her, if only to give her a questioning look. That was the push Charlie needed to go for it.
"I mean, sounds good… But would you like to- I don't know…" She got an embarrassed little grin and gestured between them. "…You know."
"Know what?"
"You know." Charlie gestured more, now gesturing between them and down towards the couch.
Perplexed and intrigued, Baby coaxed her with, "You have to be very specific because unless you tell me I will not guess."
Charlie dropped her arms with exasperation. Baby was really going to make her spell it out- and from that look in Baby's eyes, yes she was.
"Would you like to maybe just… lay down here together on the couch?" Charlie offered. "…Okay, that came out wrong. What I meant was-."
"Alright."
Charlie was surprised by Baby's quick agreement. Even Baby herself was startled by it, seeming to freeze up after she said it.
"Really?" Charlie asked.
"…Really. Yes."
Baby doubled down and that was all the confirmation Charlie needed. She fought back the urge to start ringing, but not the goofy smile, and began to readjust the blanket.
"Okay! Let's just get a little padding here so we're not bumping around too much… Okay, ready!"
Baby started to lean forward. Carefully, slowly, like a timid cat more than a person. She hesitated before she could make any contact.
"What if I crush you?"
"Baby, you're not anywhere near that heavy. And the last I checked I don't need to breathe anyway."
Baby gave a half-amused little 'hmm!'. She reached up and unwound her little hat from her wire hair before setting it aside. Then she began to cautiously settle in.
She rested her head sort of between Charlie's shoulder and her chest, slowly releasing her weight until she was comfortably resting there. Charlie put her arm around her back as encouragement and in return, Baby tucked her claw in underneath Charlie, between her and the couch cushions. Until they weren't just laying together but shamelessly holding one another.
It was different. Both could tell that much right away. It was pushing of a boundary that so far they hadn't so much as nudged very hard.
The living room was almost painfully quiet- for Charlie, who was still fighting back the ringing and jingling that wanted to bubble out. She had to keep it cool. One wrong move and Baby might leave, and she wanted to keep her right here. So close that her chin was resting atop her wire hair. Focus, don't act strange.
"I liked that movie," Baby said quietly.
"Which one?"
"Babe. It was sweet. Borderline tooth-rottingly so, but there was something so… honest about it," Baby confessed. She sighed a little. "If I am being honest… it reminded me of Scott."
"Really? Why's that?"
"I'm not sure… It was just the way that man never gave up on Babe, even though he was… by all accounts, a completely burden at times."
"Babe wasn't a burden. He just was out of his element. He never gave up either… Well, except for that time he went into that depression- but that's where friends and family come in."
"I know. Scott taught me that," Baby said. Charlie petted her head reassuringly and the green light of her eyes dimmed. "But you taught me that too. I won't discredit that. You were and are my first and best friend."
Charlie's hand stilled as she processed that. She knew that, Baby must've said it before, but it felt different now. Maybe because of their position. It felt like it meant more. It felt like her insides were melting.
She became bolder again, returning her hand to Baby's head but now trailing her fingers through her wire hair. Almost combing it down. The lights dimmed further, and Charlie realized Baby must've been closing her eyes. It was so rare to see her with her guard down; it felt special.
"This feels strange…"
Charlie immediately pulled her hand back. "We can stop if you want."
"No, it's not that strange. Not hardly." Baby closed her eyes and tilted her head back more, silently requesting more. When Charlie returned to petting her head she sighed and hugged her a little tighter, turning her face further into the blanket and into Charlie's chest. "Thank you for this."
"Why are you thanking me? This is as much for me as it is for you," Charlie admitted.
"Is it now?"
The lilt to Baby's voice immediately got Charlie ringing, and it wasn't like Baby couldn't hear it this close to her chest. Charlie struggled to get it under control arm bent and hand on her face, feeling a blush that wasn't there.
The green glow returned, and Baby tilted back her head to peek up at her. Charlie shot her a flustered smile. Baby gave a small laugh- an actual laugh- and lowered her head before returning to her previous position.
Charlie felt that embarrassment fade away, but the soft jingling couldn't be stopped. She wasn't making much effort to fight it anymore, just listening to it growing quieter the more she relaxed into the warmth, the gentle compression around her, and she herself started to drift back off.
This was nice. This was really nice.
…
Charlie woke up to the garage door opening and Michael muttering and shuffling out of it. Or more specifically, she woke up to Baby waking up and shooting upright. The clown quickly fixing Charlie's blanket in the vain attempt to cover up that she had been laying there. Not that Michael noticed, staggering in.
"Morning, Michael," Charlie called. Michael mumbling the greeting in return.
"What were you doing out there? Surely you weren't working all night," Baby inquired.
"Sleeping," he muttered.
"Oh." It didn't take a genius to deduce that he hadn't had good luck with Baby's bed. "My condolences."
"So, where's Ennard?" Charlie asked.
Michael pointed and Charlie tilted her head back only to come face-to-face with Ennard silently grinning down at her.
"Gah!" Charlie shouted and fumbled and fell right off the couch and onto the floor with an, "Oof!"
Baby gasped and was quick to help pull her up, sending Ennard a small glare. He didn't mind one bit. He trembled with budding excitement.
"Oh ho ha ha SORRY, Charlie! I didn't mean to scare you- I was just peeking in at what you two were getting into down there!" Ennard leaned on an elbow on the back of the couch, eyes narrowing mischievously. "Looks like soooomebody had a little sleepover last night~!"
"Yes, it was me. And I regret it," Michael said. Currently trying to stretch out his back to no avail.
"What gave it away, the fact that Charlie did, indeed, sleep here last night?" Baby asked dryly.
"Ha ha, got me! But I thought you guys were gonna be working. Imagine my surprise coming out to find my sister and my adopted sister fast asleep like a couple of kitty cats!"
"Ennard," Baby warned.
"You know, when they get all curled up together?" Ennard continued, lowering his voice and narrowing his eyes impishly.
At this moment Scott passed by and gave Ennard a gentle slap on the back and a mildly amused but mostly sympathetic, "Stop."
"Okay, okay! I'm done!" Ennard lifted off the couch and threw his hands in the air before following Scott into the kitchen. Though not before giving Baby a very unsubtle thumbs up that he barely hid in front of him and away from Charlie's gaze. Baby looked away quickly and shooed him.
Needless to say, everything was very awkward. Baby finally managed to look Charlie in the eye and all she got was an extremely guilty smile. God bless it, Ennard. She grabbed her hat and affixed it again in the most dejected way possible.
It was then that Baby and Charlie took note of Michael still standing over them and it became clear that he was silently waiting for his turn on the couch. Seeing this as a way out, Charlie sprung to her feet.
"Hey, let's go see if we can get some work done before I've got to go!" she suggested.
Baby nodded with a hum of agreement and got up before following her to the garage, only briefly stopping to give Scott back his jacket and exchange one last glare and smirk with Ennard. Then she headed into the garage and shut the door behind her.
And only then did Charlie realize maybe this wasn't the best idea as now they were standing in the garage together alone and that was even more awkward.
"So!" She turned away as she fiddled with the edge of her jacket. "I think we can say for sure that Ennard definitely saw us."
"I know. What a tragedy."
"Well, uh… Maybe we can get some work done!" Charlie suggested. She leaned on the edge of the table and stared down at the lyrics with fresh eyes. Trying her hardest to get her brain to start working.
Baby watched her for a moment before steeling her nerves and rolling up to her.
"Charlie…"
"Hmm?" Charlie didn't look up.
Until Baby took her hand off the table. Charlie looked up in surprise as Baby switched Charlie's hand to her claw, gently holding it in the tip without any pressure to cause pain. She then took her other hand in her hand, and raised both towards her chest.
"I want to thank you for last night. I was getting… a little fixated on this performance. Trapped inside of my own head, and I may do that again once we are back to work. I wanted to tell you now that I very much appreciated it," Baby softly said.
"Oh, uh, don't worry about it! You know that's what I'm here for," Charlie said with a smile. The jingling creeping onto her voice again. She squeezed Baby's hand and even her claw back. "It was my pleasure."
Baby's eyes were nearly glistening, and her perpetual smile looked more real than ever. Her wires framed her face like multicolored locks of hair, the blue and red highlights contrasting so vividly against that sharp green. Charlie found it almost impossible to look away.
It felt like that smile wound up her music box heart.
And it was then that she realized how serious this was.
…
This was a weird time to broach a conversation, but it really was the best time to do it. Being that they were completely alone in the dining room, Mike and Charlie, with no distractions other than their textbooks.
"Hey, can I ask you something?" Charlie asked.
"If it's about any of this, you're on your own," Mike replied, waving a hand over the books and papers between them.
Charlie rolled her eyes. "No, not that. Something else."
"Shoot."
"Let's say… so, there's someone I want to get closer with."
Mike's eyes raised to look at her over the textbook. "You can say Baby. I'm not going to get that look you're dreading."
"What look?" Charlie replied flatly.
He lowered the book and sent her a wolfish grin.
"Oh, okay. The Ennard look."
"It was called the Mike look before he showed up," Mike said. He then dropped the jokey tone and asked, "What are you worried about?"
"Well… So… I'm not really built for relationships. I tried before and we never really got past the 'are we dating' stage? And even then, I was always just… sort of tapping out."
Mike knew that feeling but didn't interrupt.
"So, like, what if we get into a relationship and I get caught up with work and start neglecting her, and then we drift apart? Then our relationship AND friendship is ruined."
"I don't think you'd get that lost in work. Even if you did, Baby knows you take your projects seriously. I'd bet money that she likes that about you."
"Yeah, maybe. But…"
Charlie paused for a long moment. Mike let her take all the time she needed, not returning to the textbook and instead waiting patiently. Watching her mental war on whether she was going to say what she was thinking.
Then finally she did.
"I've been warned my whole life to not turn out like my dad…"
Now that was a loaded sentence if Mike ever heard one before. He didn't even know how to reply to that at first, but after a silent pause, he went for it. Not sure how this entirely related to Baby but knowing what she needed to hear- or what he wanted her to hear.
"Charlie, look. I knew your dad briefly and I can tell you with no uncertainty that you are nothing like your dad. The buck stops at you two having similar careers, that's it."
Charlie nodded.
"And to be fair to him, your dad wasn't a bad man. He had some serious screw-ups along the way, but it sounds like he was a good guy before whatever went down at the diner. I know he went through hell and he might've handled it badly, but who am I to judge? The only thing I can judge him on is what he did to Mari and me, but he wasn't a complete monster, and last I heard someone told me that he straightened his act out."
She had, in fact. She and Marionette had both told of their encounters at the red lake and while it wouldn't change what he remembered; it did sound like he was making an attempt to right his wrongs. Mike had to give him credit on that front.
She nodded and looked to him, still listening. By then Mike knew what he wanted to tell her.
"If you want my advice… you already know what you want to do, so why not just go for it? It's better than letting it hang over your head for the rest of your life. Or worse, not getting a chance to and spending the rest of your life regretting missing out."
"Is that why you said to Mari when you two got together?" Charlie asked knowingly.
"Something like that," Mike answered with a little smile. "What've you got to lose?"
"…You're right." Charlie straightened up and determinedly thumped a fist on the table. "You're right! That's exactly what I did with John, I sat around and didn't take the risk because I was afraid it wouldn't work out. I'm not doing that again. I am going to march right up to Baby- Okay, no. This probably calls for some tact. But I will tell her how I feel, what I want to do, and then… I'll see what she says. Worst thing she can do is turn me down."
"She won't turn you down."
"Worst thing she can do is not turn me down and then it doesn't work out."
"I don't see that happening either, but if it did it doesn't mean you'll stop being friends. You just suck it up through the weirdness and eventually it'll get back to how it was."
Charlie couldn't tell if Mike was being genuinely optimistic or just trying to assure her. She smiled regardless.
"I guess you've got a point. Okay, totally decided, going to do this."
"Great!"
There was a lingering pause.
"…So, when were you thinking of doing it?"
"Uh, soon."
Fair.
"Well, if you need help setting anything up, I'm your wingman," Mike promised. Charlie smiled thankfully.
Then it was back to the books. Mike looked back at the section he was supposed to be reading and stared at it for a little more than five seconds before closing the book.
"Alright, I think we're done here."
"Mike, you barely studied."
"I know, but I'm taking a ten-minute break. I had a long night last night."
"Speaking of which…" Marionette came into the room. "There was something that happened last night…"
"Please don't tell me Vanny showed up here."
"No, no. Nothing like that… but someone did show up…"
With him hesitating, Charlie looked to Mike. He sighed and laid it out for her.
"Last night we found out that Hickory Dickory's has a new animatronic on staff. It's that hippo from Magictime Theater, and… it's Dave. Now we're not afraid that he's going to pull anything, he really can't in the body he's got now, but we wanted to let you know that he's still here. Just in case something happened and somehow you got roped into going over there," Mike explained.
"Oh…" Charlie looked down at the books and processed it. Her eyes went wide. "My God."
"We will never bring him here and you never have to meet him, but we thought it was only fair to let you know," Marionette explained. He put a hand on her shoulder reassuringly.
"No, thank you for telling me. I'd rather know," she rushed out. She still looked to be reeling but laid a hand on the other puppet's. "Was he any different?"
"He seemed remorseful. He apologized to us, but I doubt he's aware that you're… aware," Marionette explained.
"Maybe that's for the best," Charlie mumbled.
"Bottom line is, between him and Music man you need to steer clear of Hickory Dickory's, and we're going to do everything in our power to keep you safe," Mike insisted. He reached out for her hand on the table.
Charlie squeezed it back and Marionette's too and processed the information for a little longer. Then she nodded, her signal that she was alright, and smiled at them both.
"Thanks, you guys. I'm not worried, I know you've got my back," she said.
"Always!" Marionette promised. He leaned down and gave her a hug.
Once he drew back, Charlie looked back down at her textbook before sighing and closing it.
"You know what? You're right. Let's take a break and go play some games."
"Now that's the spirit," Mike encouraged.
As they got up, he reached out to pat her other shoulder. While Marionette headed into the living room to set up the video games.
Charlie did a double take towards him when something suddenly clicked. Before Mike could turn away, she grabbed his arm and pulled him in.
"Wait a minute, was he out there the whole time?" she whispered.
The same realization dawned on Mike and he looked out at the living room, seeing Marionette already crouching down to tackle the wires.
"If he was, he has one heck of a poker face about it," Mike replied.
Charlie dropped her head with a groan. Mike gave her another sympathetic pat on the back and led her out of the kitchen.
And by time they made it out there and Marionette turned back to face them, he had gotten his elated smile under control once again.