Mable: I would like to wish a Happy Birthday to my dear friend Deblod! ^_^ Hope you have a good day and a great year!

Going Home in a Box

Chapter Eleven

Natalie was a little surprised when she got into the Pizzaplex only to find there was nobody waiting for her. Shrugging it off and guessing she didn't really need to be checked on, she went right into the lost and found security office and started getting set up. This time she brought her bag in and with it had plenty of change, snacks, and even a couple of puzzle books for if she got bored during the downtime between rounds and camera-checking.

She had just gotten settled into her office chair and was starting to check the cameras when she caught a glimpse of the lobby elevator doors opening. Brows shooting up, she clicked back to that camera to check, only to find none other than Chazz and Stanley coming into the lobby. Chaz wear carrying a toolbox while Stanley carried a toolbelt and was eating a slice of pizza. She got back up to go meet them, getting out to the lobby before they could turn to enter the locker room.

"Hey!" she called. Chaz raised a hand in greeting as he came down the final steps while Stanley froze mid-bite. "I thought maybe you guys weren't coming in tonight. What were you doing?"

"Trying to get the kitchen bots up to snuff. So far, we've got the ones in the snack bar programmed to heat frozen pizzas, but we've got our work cut out if we're going to get any of them making fresh," Chaz said. It sounded from his tone that he wasn't too excited in the prospect either. He perked up though. "You're right on time. Guessing last night didn't go too bad."

"No, it went fine. One of the bots fell down the daycare stairs, but everything else was quiet," Natalie assured. She then greeted Stanley with a friendly, "Hey Stanley."

"Oh, uh. Hey!" he answered. He almost seemed embarrassed that he got caught eating on the job.

"So, here's the deal," Chaz interrupted. "We caught Freddy wandering around outside his room earlier, so we had to lock his door. It's a precaution, but don't be shocked if he finds a way out. It never works." The way he stretched that 'never' made Natalie more than a little uneasy. "On the plus side, Freddy's pretty easy to handle. Just tell him to get back to his room and he'll do it."

"This is probably a stupid question, but why can't the animatronics just walk around?" Natalie asked. Both of the technicians seemed confused by this question. She quickly added, "It's not like they're getting out of here. Wandering around seems like the least of our problems."

"You'd think that, but no. I told you yesterday they'll wander off and get broken? Yeah, that happened already. I kid you not," Chazz answered.

"…Wait a minute, are you talking about the Sun or are you telling me that there's another entirely different animatronic that just disappeared off the face of the earth?" Natalie asked. Chaz sent her a smug little smile and she was done. "…Alright, you two have to leave. I can't handle anymore insanity tonight."

Chaz laughed and continued on towards the door with Stanley following behind him. Before he could get far, Natalie stopped him.

"Before you go, where's the nearest vending machine?" she asked. She didn't really feel like going into the daycare hallway if she didn't have to. Not that she planned on tipping them off by telling them that.

"There's a line of them right down the hall leading to the daycare." Never mind, then. "And I don't think anyone would care if you helped yourself to the coffee up in the Faz-Pad. We do it all the time."

"I might have to do that," Natalie replied with a small smile. She turned back to return to the lost and found. "You two have a good night! Stay safe driving home!"

"We will! You take care too," Stanley replied. Chaz gave a wave, but was already at the front door, eager to leave.

Soon they were gone, and Natalie was alone to sink into the office chair and wait for the doors to seal so she could begin her first rounds of the evening. She was hoping it was going to be another easy night.

Little did she know, but within the hour the Pizzaplex was going to receive an unexpected visitor in the form of a masked intruder sliding in through an open vent.

Foxy had left earlier tonight than he had on his first night in. Largely because he had cut it too close on getting back to the pizzeria the first time. He hadn't left himself with enough time to recover and rest before service and while he had managed, he was wiped. He didn't want that happening again or it was going to look suspicious, and he couldn't afford to look suspicious when there was a possibility of her seeing him on the cameras.

He was careful to not draw attention to himself as he made his way down the edge of the atrium wall and over towards Rockstar Row. There were more lights on tonight than before. At least, the snack bar area had its lights and signs on, so Foxy got away from that area as quickly as possible. He got into Rockstar Row, the only other location with its lights on- except maybe the lobby- though they were still dim.

His yellow eyes locked onto the curtains of Freddy Fazbear's enclosure. They were opened about a foot tonight, revealing the warm, colorful glow from inside. He crept closer and ducked behind a display case in the middle of the hall outside of the window, peeking around for a glimpse into the room. He caught sight of an arcade machine inside but couldn't make out the blur of colors on the bright screen.

As he was leaning to get a better look, his eyes briefly glanced down and then did a double take at what looked like a foot sitting in the case. He stared at it for a second before leaning closer, only to realize in only looked like an animatronic foot. He crouched down and squinted at the little tag labelling the boot.

"Vintage costume shoe used at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. Donated by P. Taggart."

Foxy scoffed at the use of vintage. The last Freddy's was open less than ten years ago. Nothing at Freddy's could be considered even that old… Maybe outdated, the thought creeping into his head without his control.

He grumbled sourly and stole a look at the other cases around him, with only one of them catching his attention. His ears rubbing against his hood as they perked and he walked over to get a better look, confirming what he was seeing.

There was a microphone sitting in one of the cases. One that looked remarkably similar to the one Freddy Fazbear used to hold. The original Freddy Fazbear, his bandmate, his friend. It probably wasn't and yet he still rested his hand on the case like it held that significance as he looked down at it. His eyes lowered to read the tag in front of it.

"Original microphone used by Freddy at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. Donated by P. Taggart."

How something that brought with it so many feelings could be summed up so blandly was beyond Foxy. When he looked at it, he couldn't help by remember Freddy clutching it in his hand while singing an out-of-tune bubbly song on stage. So embarrassing, so goofy, and yet there was something so nostalgically warm about it, even though Foxy couldn't remember any joy from those years trapped in Freddy's. He just missed them so much.

As though he didn't feel awful enough under the eye of all this glitz and glamor. He felt depressed enough now that he was numb to his better judgement and turned his gaze back to the gap between the curtains. Straightening his back and lifting his chin, he strode over to the window and boldly looked through, and yet froze up as his eyes landed on Freddy- the new Freddy Fazbear.

Freddy was sitting upright in something that looked more like a barber chair than a proper seat and pulled up to a vanity. He seemed to be staring at himself in the mirror with an arm resting on the desk in front of him. It was clear that he hadn't noticed Foxy coming up and he knew at this point that he could've still left without being detected, but temptation and curiosity crept up.

Freddy was just as alive as he was. That was enough for Foxy to raise his hook and tap against the glass. Immediately Freddy perked up and tilted his head a little, then turned in his chair to look at the window. The second he saw Foxy, he sprung up from his seat and stood there frozen. He couldn't tell what kind of look the bear was giving him. Maybe he was afraid he was going to start spray painting his window.

Not wanting to rile him up any more than he already had, Foxy raised a hand as a sign of submission to get him to ease up. Freddy must've misread this signal as his face brightened up and he began to wave back. Then he held out his hands like he was signaling for Foxy to wait before suddenly and unexpectedly sprinting out of the room through a security door on the back wall.

For a moment Foxy could only stand there staring at the door that had closed behind him. That was bizarre, and now paranoia creeped in as he wondered where Freddy could've gone. If he was coming out then he would've just used the door, he was running off on a mission. Possibly to find and signal the security guard- though then again, why take the back door unless it led to the same place?

It didn't help that there were bizarre noises coming from a few windows down. It sounded almost like something was stomping around in one of the rooms- not too unlike Freddy's thundering footsteps. Between that and Freddy wanting him to wait, Foxy decided to get a move on and returned to the atrium. His better judgement was telling him again to leave, reminding him that there were cameras all over this place, that he shouldn't wait for what Freddy was going to do.

Until he stopped to take a good look around the atrium from beside one of the escalators and in the darkness noticed a sign that now held more meaning: Kids Cove.

Foxy was aware of Wight's ideal plan for his brand. He wanted him to be the face of Kids Cove, which Foxy would've protested vehemently to if Jeremy hadn't assured him that it was a fake deal. A fake deal to protect him after Foxy's reckless decisions made him a target. Something that he was doing again, he realized. He would've never come back if it wasn't Natalie. She was, thankfully, a safety net in these rough waters.

But Kids Cove stood there unmanned. It piqued his interest, a morbid curiosity in a way, and he took the long way around the room to reach it. The garage-like door responded to his approach and opened for him to slip underneath.

Foxy's heart sunk when he looked at Kids Cove. If this had been a play area in Foxy's Pirates Cove it would've been perfect. There was a towering lighthouse with a little door and a slide wrapped around it, a fishing boat snared by tentacles that was probably to be climbed on, and even a little sitting area with a fake fire. The place was decorated with faux rockery, treasure chests, piers, and palms. The walls were painted like the night sky, with puffy clouds and a full moon.

The children would love this, and if it was at his pizzeria he would love it too. It was wasted here, not even having a mascot who could play with the kids and get their imaginations going with it. He could have so many adventure here- if it wasn't Freddy's. The amount of money it would take to make something like this was beyond any expansion they could afford.

His rapidly declining mood was suddenly cut off by a loud noise out in the atrium. He lifted his head and listened to hear what sounded like machinery activating, and cautious curiosity led him to step back out that garage door.

It sounded like something was happening on the main stage, but between the darkness- which wasn't a problem- and the fact that the stage was elevated- which was a problem- he couldn't see what it was. He came a little closer, coming to stand at the escalators on this side of the atrium, prepared to duck down and hide at any moment.

That was when a familiar face began to raise up onto the stage. Carried by some unseen lift beneath him, there was Freddy Fazbear slowly coming into view. Posed with one finger pointing towards the ceiling and his eyes closed.

Foxy scoffed a little. Apparently, Kids Cove wasn't the only place where imaginations ran wild.

Unfortunately, Foxy scoffed in a dead silent atrium and while the stage was still making an unholy amount of noise, somehow Freddy had heard him specifically. His eyes opened a crack as he continued holding the pose, only to open fully and drop the act the second he saw Foxy standing in the distance. It wasn't hard to see the stark black figure with the weird-shaped mask as the odd thing out in the room.

Foxy must've had a premonition because he knew exactly what was coming. He turned to bolt before Freddy could break into a run. At this point it wasn't even that Foxy was afraid of Freddy- he would never admit to that- but it was something between a fear of being caught and the overwhelming feeling that he just didn't want to deal with this. When things got a little too tense, Foxy split.

The garage door leading into Kids Cove wasn't nearly as on board with the plan. It took its sweet time hoisting itself up, all while he could hear Freddy sprinting up behind him. He clamored under it, which would've gone a lot better if the top of his mask hadn't bumped the door and pulled out of place, briefly blinding him. He staggered for a second as he pulled it in place and instantly spotted the darkened stairs beside the lighthouse.

Foxy had gotten onto the pier when Freddy suddenly caught the security door and shoved it up with a grinding squeak. He spotted the other running up the stairs as called after him, "Wait! Please do not run! Please."

There was a pleading that could only be heard in that last word, and it was enough to get Foxy to look back. If Freddy wasn't emoting much when they last met up, he was definitely doing so now. His eyes lidded with something akin to sadness and his ears drooped to match it. This had to be some sort of ploy and yet it almost worked. It got him to freeze up at the top of the stairs and stare down at him, not unlike a wild animal about to flee.

"Please. I will not hurt you, and I will not tell anyone you came, but…" There was a clicking sound before Freddy's chest started to open up. Foxy watched flabbergasted as some sort of hatch opened on his belly. The bear reached inside and pulled out a familiar backpack. "I have something that belongs to you."

It felt like a ruse, like he was getting baited down the stairs with how Freddy held the bag out in his hand. Foxy knew better to fall for such a trick and yet after a long moment he dared to take a step back down the stairs. Blast this bloody bear.

Foxy turned and began to slowly make his way down the stairs back towards Freddy. The bear in turn perked up with his eyes literally glowing. They felt especially robotic, less like an animatronic and more like something metal and unfeeling. Yet somehow, they were getting Foxy to come back down the stairs. He cautiously reached out his hand and beckoned with his fingers to hand it over, his hook primed and ready for a backstab.

But Freddy did nothing more than hand the backpack over. Foxy noticed as soon as he took it that it was significantly lighter and shook it to hear no rattling.

"…Where's the paint?" he asked. His first words to Freddy, who reacted accordingly with his ears popping up with a wiggle.

"I-I disposed of it. Spray paint is not allowed in the Pizzaplex for… obvious reasons."

Foxy gave a little, unenthused 'hmph' and slipped the backpack over his arm. He didn't say anything more.

Freddy waited for a few moments more before asking, "Are you the real Foxy the Pirate? The one from the Foxy's Pirate Cove?"

"What's it to ya?" Foxy challenged, sending him a sharp and suspicious sort of look.

"Oh, I was just wondering. You do have a traditional pirate accent and hook- and official Foxy's Pirate Cove merchandise. I just assumed that you were him," Freddy explained. He could act uncertain and intimidated all he wanted, but Foxy knew it had to be an act. Probably just another attempt to assuage him.

Foxy hummed and clicked his endoskeleton teeth together. Pride welled up in his chest along with that constant background of inadequacy that he couldn't help but feel being in a place he didn't belong.

"Nah…" he finally said. Then he suddenly hoisted his hook up while planting his hand on his hip and his foot on a higher step, striking a much more impressive pose. "That'd be Captain Foxy fer ye landlubbers."

Freddy got an excited look to his eyes and his mouth opened in a smile. "I see! Well then, it is nice to meet you, Captain," he said without a hint of patronizing in his tone. "I am Freddy Fazbear of Freddy Fazbear's Mega Pizzaplex."

"Ya got yer mug plastered on half the stuff in here. I'd be blind not to know who ya are," Foxy said with less harshness than he intended.

"I suppose so. My apologies," Freddy said, unphased by it. Though his voice did grow softer. "I did not expect you to come back. I was hoping you might, but I knew there was a chance you would not."

"Why?"

"Well, because I had caught you in the middle of an act of vandalism, and now that we have a security guard-."

"Not that!" Foxy snapped. He flinched back at his own voice and looked around quickly in paranoia before making eye contact again. "Why'd ya want me back? To turn me in?"

"Of course not! If I was going to turn you in, I would have gone to the security officer by now. I would not do that… Erm, unless you are planning to vandalize again?"

"How'm I gonna do that when ya dumped me paint?" Foxy asked, hoisting up the bag. Freddy looked a little more concerned at that and the pirate scoffed. "Take it easy. I didn't come back fer trouble."

"That is good! Then I will not have to ask you to leave!" Freddy said. Just the cheerful way he said this was enough to force a chuckle out of Foxy. He caught it quickly and stifled it in time to be asked, "What brought you back?"

…

This was a bad time to suddenly draw a blank. Even if he convinced himself it was just to check on Natalie, he couldn't tell Freddy that. While he said he wasn't going to turn Foxy himself in, there was nothing to say he wouldn't turn Natalie in if he found out she was a fraud. Or that he could just spout it out to the wrong person and have her identity, and their whole plan in general, fall apart.

Yet Foxy just kept blanking on what to say. He was too proud to say he came to see Freddy, even if it was surely a lie, but there were few believable alternatives. Freddy seemed to be waiting for an answer too, but after a while off watching Foxy silently stare at him, he started to realize he wasn't going to get one. He made a motion and sound like if he was clearing his throat.

"To answer your question earlier, I wanted you to come back so I could meet you, and so I could apologize. I know I must have frightened you running up like I did, but I meant no harm. I thought you were attacking a Staff Bot. We have to protect those little guys."

"I wasn't scared of you, I was scared of gettin' caught," Foxy quickly corrected. At least his words didn't fail him now. "Some rogue animatronic runnin' 'round ain't gonna be welcomed with open arms… 'Specially not when he's yer competitor." He shuffled around on the steps, growing antsy. This had been enough excitement for one night he decided. "Speakin' o' which, I should be shovin' off."

"You are leaving already?" Freddy sounded surprised and a bit disappointed.

"Aye. I gotta be back at me pizzeria by mornin'," Foxy excused.

"That is a shame. I was hoping you could stay longer…" Freddy said, disappointment in his voice. "…But… There is still plenty of time before morning. Why not stay longer? If you are afraid of being seen, we can return to my room. It will be much safer in there! The security officer rarely passes by and if she does, she will not see you with the curtains drawn. What do you say?"

Foxy could've predicted Freddy's clinginess a mile away. This wasn't that different to how he was acting when he was trying to creep out of here the first night. The only difference being that he was now confident enough to try and talk Foxy into staying, which wasn't going to work. It was a wonder he stood on these stairs as long as he did knowing good and well that Freddy could be trying to fool him.

"Sounds like a trap," he thought. He was less direct with his words. "Sounds like a good way to corner meself."

"I promise it is very safe! If anyone tried to come in, you could escape through the backroom. That was how I was able to come and find you," Freddy explained. His voice softened up. "It is the least I could do after our first meeting."

It was becoming abundantly clear that Freddy wanted something. Foxy wasn't sure what that was- if he was just cripplingly lonely or if he was on the road to set him up- but it had to be something, and he wasn't falling for it.

…Then again, this could be a window to that valuable in-house information they had been gunning for. It didn't seem like any of the employees had been coughing up any of Freddy's dark secrets to Natalie, but so far Freddy himself had been relatively open with whatever he said. He seemed a little on the naïve side too. Unless that was a ruse Foxy, could probably weasel secrets out of him in seconds.

But was he actually about to take another gamble on this accursed business?

"Ehhhh…." Foxy mulled it over a little longer. Hand and hook on hips, shuffling from foot to foot, with Freddy watching her with eager anticipation for his answer. This was foolish. This shouldn't have even been a consideration.

But someone had already died.

"Alright, if yer that sure then I'll stop fer a snifter."

"Really? That is great-!"

"But!" Foxy raised that hook quick and pointed it right at Freddy's nose, more than willing to get his point across. "I ain't gettin' comfy just yet, so don't you go gettin' any ideas. Ya rat me out and I'm doin' some real damage on me way out."

"I would never. You are now my guest," Freddy said, slightly offended. Which was much better than the sympathy that took his voice right afterwards. "It does not matter that we have different pizzerias, you are welcome here."

That took the wind out of Foxy's sails immediately. Not only did it take any enjoyment away from knocking Freddy down a peg, but the fact that Freddy was sympathizing with him made him feel downright pathetic. Maybe if he was wearing his coat and cap instead of looking like some kind of vagrant- or at least had his head on. He grumbled to himself and thrust his hook into his hoodie's pouch.

"Let's get movin'."

Freddy must've known that he was treading uneasy waters as he nodded but said nothing more. He turned around and led Foxy back out the same door they came in.

"We should stay close to the snack bar. There should be a blind spot from the cameras near the counters," Freddy instructed. Foxy could've told him that, but he decided to stay silent and kept his head down as he followed.

They walked the long way around the atrium and into Rockstar Row through the same entryway as before, through the same section of partially finished passage, but that was when he got sidetracked. There was a counter outside of Rockstar Row that Foxy had passed earlier without a second glance, but now Freddy approached it instead of going into the hall. The pirate came to a dead stop and watched him like a hawk.

Freddy went around the counter and began to go through the back of it, eyes narrowed and focused and humming a little in his chest as he searched. He gave a confirmative nod as he plucked up what looked like card of some kind and returned to duck under the security door. He offered no explanation and only noticed he hadn't been followed after a few steps. He looked back to Foxy expectantly.

He was too old to be feeling peer pressure, Foxy decided, but he still followed under that door and kept up behind the bear with only a few steps between them.

It turned out that the card Freddy had gotten was to use on his own door. One quick swipe and the door slid open easily.

"Why'd you need a key to get in yer own room?" Foxy asked lowly.

"Well… Earlier today the technicians caught me wandering the pizzeria at an undesignated time. They thought it would be safer if I was kept secured," Freddy explained. He almost seemed ashamed, and Foxy couldn't be sure if it was because he had been caught or because he was locked up at all. Either way, the answer made Foxy uncomfortable.

"…They lock ya in yer room often?" he asked with the same tone.

"Only when they are concerned for my safety… and I usually am not caught." The two lines jarringly contrasted with each other, but not nearly as much as they did against the sudden cheery tone that seized his voice. "Welcome to my green room! You are welcome to entertain yourself with all I have- or I can entertain you! You are my guest."

Foxy didn't even want to step inside if it meant toying with the risk of getting locked in, but he had come too far to walk off now. He stepped into the green room and allowed the door to shut behind him as he got a better look at the place.

Earlier he hadn't really paid much attention to the green room, so this was a better first impression of it. The walls were painted red with Freddy head decorations in the form of a neon sign, facial decals, and posters. A few illuminated lightning bolt shaped signs were hung along with a bold, yellow "Freddy Fazbear" sign above the couch. Or what looked like a red couch hiding under a slew of plush toys, including one massive Freddy doll, and a bowtie shaped pillow.

There was the vanity and the arcade machine, both of which Foxy spotted earlier, but there was also a corner filled with photograph equipment. Probably so people could get their picture taken with Freddy. He ached looking at it. Some kids and adults had asked to get their picture with him, but never enough to warrant that much equipment. He was already starting to feel depressed; thankfully he matched the dress code.

Freddy went over to close the curtains the rest of the way before turning back to Foxy expectantly. "Make yourself at home!"

Foxy took his advice and crossed over to the couch. There was a short table there too covered in various things. He ignored it, instead choosing to pull the massive Freddy plush off the couch and taking its place, laying across the length and kicking his feet up on the pillow. Almost like an act of defiance, not that Freddy seemed to notice or care. He sat back down in his weird barber-looking chair and looked to Foxy expectantly.

If he was waiting for him to compliment the room he was going to have to wait. Nice or not, it was property of Fazbear Entertainment, a dolled up holding cell for their dancing bear, and Foxy wouldn't ignore that for pleasantries.

He looked down at the table for something to remark on and happened to notice a bowling ball sitting on the floor. He craned his neck to double check, but yes, it was a green and orange bowling ball.

"Ya bowl?" he simply asked.

"I… used to. Not as much anymore," Freddy said with a strangely somber tone. Foxy hummed questioningly and cocked his head on the armrest. The bear changed tone as quickly as he had at the door, "What is your pizzeria like? I have heard of Foxy's Pirate Cove, but I do not know anything about it."

"It's a pirate themed pizzeria," Foxy said curtly. "Why'd ya stop bowling?"

Freddy must've actually thought he was going to drop it because he looked startled that Foxy brought it back up. His eyes darted around uncomfortably as he fumbled for words.

"I… I am not… I do not get up to the alley as much as I used to…"

Then it suddenly clicked. Of course Freddy couldn't go bowling, when he was caught outside, he was rewarded by getting his door locked. This was enough to convince Foxy to back off, leaning back on the couch to stare at the ceiling.

"It be like the old Freddy's but better in every way. We got a big dining room, huge arcade, prize corner stocked with prizes as far as the eye can see, and I get full run of the place. Nothin' gets done without my say so. Don't let the landlock fool ya, there may be no sea but it be my ship," Foxy said. He glanced to see if Freddy was listening. He was, closely, and that pride started swelling up in his chest as he turned on his side.

"We be expandin' sometime soon. Ye'd be best not tellin' anyone but know we're gonna be havin' ourselves a friendly competition," Foxy said confidently. "Just next week we got big gig. The hull's gonna be packed."

"That is great to hear! And do you still get to perform on stage?" Freddy asked innocently. That question surprised and confused the pirate who looked at the bear with a funny look.

"What's that mean? Course I perform on stage."

"Oh, good! I was just wondering considering your current condition. It is a very good mask though! I recognized it easily."

"What're you…?" Foxy trailed off as it clicked. "By the Flying Dutchman, you think I'm out o' service, don't ya?!" he exclaimed. Sitting upright on the couch and sounding very offended. That suddenly explained why he had been treating him with kid gloves even though he broke into his establishment. That offended him more than him just assuming he was broken because he was from the old Freddy's.

"I did not think you were out of service! I just assumed you were missing your suit head. The rest of you looked quite put together!" Freddy reassured. He kept his tone calm, but he sounded embarrassed.

"I took it off to fit this thing on!" Foxy answered, pinching the hood with his fingers.

"Oh! My apologies. I should not have assumed."

Foxy gave a little grumble and trailed off. Still offended but unable to really lash out when Freddy rolled over as quickly as he did. As tall and impressive as Freddy looked- and it killed him having to admit that- he seemed rather soft. He had gotten a glimpse of it the last time he was here, but this backed up that suspicion and Natalie's claim. Freddy seemed relatively harmless and meek compared to even the average animatronic.

Then again, Foxy had fallen for Ennard's Baby ruse. He couldn't trust his instincts like he used to.

He looked away from Freddy and ended up instead noticing the arcade machine in the corner. Now he had a much better view of it and could see what looked like a teenage Freddy riding on a skateboard. He couldn't understand the continued drive to put Freddy on a skateboard, though was half surprised there wasn't actually a skateboard in the room with them.

"What's that?" he asked. Freddy, who had lapsed into his thoughts, quickly returned to the present and looked to the arcade cabinet.

"That is Street Skate Superstar! It is a skateboarding game. Tear up the streets, land wicked tricks, and paint the town RAD! Would you like to play?" Freddy offered. Foxy stared back, still reeling from the fact that the bear suddenly threw a commercial into the middle of their conversation. "It is very fun! You should try it. This one does not need coins or tokens."

"Eh… Ya got me curious," Foxy agreed. He dragged himself up off the couch and over to the arcade machine. "I'm guessin' ya play it a lot."

"I do! Not just because it is in here either, though that does make it much easier to access," Freddy said. He got up from his chair too and came over to stand behind Foxy, something that made him a little wary. "I do not mean to brag, but I am quite good at it!... Not so much with real skateboarding."

"You've tried it?"

"No, but once I fell off of a standing cart while I was being moved. I suppose it is as close as I should get."

That was absurd enough to get a chuckle out of Foxy, one that he promptly pretended never happened, going stone-faced as he started up the game.

The game was about what he expected; weaving down a street with many lanes trying to avoid oncoming traffic and collect slices of pizza for extra points. Once or twice, he noticed a skateboard powerup, but they were always inside of a cluster of cars, and he was fixated on playing perfectly while being watched so closely. Not that it was too difficult, and he reached the end of the stage without any mistakes.

"Well done! You completed the first level without getting hit!" Freddy congratulated. "But those skateboards on the road are extra lives. You should collect them just in case."

"Ya don't say?" Foxy asked, a tinge of smugness in his voice. Propped up by the compliments, he continued onto the next level, and the next after.

It wasn't a long game by far. With only ten levels that only got slightly longer the further they were into the game, Foxy was able to wrap it up pretty quickly with only a two deaths and what he thought was a pretty hefty score. He assumed as such when level ten ended with a screen to input his initials.

"Well done, Captain! You got a high score, and on your first try!" Freddy congratulated. Considering that he had been praising him the whole time, the words didn't hold too much weight to Foxy, but it didn't put a damper on his victory.

What did take the wind out of his sails was the high score screen to input his initials. Only now did he register the 'a' high score and not 'the' high score, as he was sixth down behind four "FAZ"s and a "BON". Well, Freddy did say he played this one a lot, so this was to be expected. There was a "ROX" directly underneath him, more "FAZs", and the list ended with a "CHI" at the very bottom. Foxy chose to input his name as "FTP", to keep it somewhat vague.

"Well, that was somethin'," he said. "Pretty short fer a game ye play all the time."

"Perhaps because it is to be played by guests who get a photo pass to visit my green room. I have not had any yet, but I suppose they will not stay long," Freddy explained. He hesitated for a moment, looking at the screen for a second, and then asked, "Would you like to keep playing?"

Foxy felt a slippery slope coming as he looked back toward the title screen. He could be playing arcade games in his own pizzeria instead of bumming off of Freddy's free machine, he didn't need his charity. He didn't want to give this place anymore credit than he already had.

But he also didn't want to go back to that empty pizzeria to wallow in his own thoughts. Not yet.

Not until he got higher on that scoreboard.

"…One more shot."

Mable: Sorry the ending is a little rushed, but I have work today and I am going to be late if I don't skedaddle. XD Hope you enjoyed!