Mable: Enjoy!
Going Home in a Box
Chapter Fifty-Six
Fritz all but dragged himself into the main security office with Ennard in tow. Scott, who was still seated at the computer, and Natalie, who was standing behind him, both turned back to acknowledge their arrival.
"Hey!" Natalie greeted. "We've got her."
Regardless of how he felt, Fritz couldn't help but snap to attention at this. He hurried over to them.
"Let me see," he said.
Scott clicked into the files he saved and started to fast-forward to the appropriate part while Natalie and Fritz watched. Surprisingly, Ennard decided to stay back instead of crowding to get a look for himself.
It wasn't long before Fritz was seeing the same small, white blur that was Vanny in the back of the tunnel on the footage. He was nearly stunned.
"And there she is! I can't believe you got her on tape," he said.
"I can't either. Now, it's not the best view but it's just clear enough that we can probably use it… But expect Fazbear Entertainment to downplay it. Discredit it, whatever they can do," Scott remarked.
"That's not a woman dressed like a rabbit, it's an albino chupacabra. Very common in this part of the country," Fritz suggested.
"No, no. See, it's just the way the light's hitting the camera makes it seem like there's a person walking there, but it's really just a trick of the light giving the illusion of a person," Scott played along. Making a camera square with his fingers to line up the shot. Ennard snickered behind them.
Yet as they were joking around, Natalie noticed that glassiness in Fritz's eyes and the darkness already starting to settle underneath them. She waited until they stopped their back and forth before she dared to interrupt it.
"You look exhausted," she then said.
Fritz looked at her, somewhat surprised at being called out, and smiled.
"It's nothing. Just a little sleep deprivation is all," he joked.
She pursed her lips thoughtfully for a second before looking between Scott and Ennard. "Can you guys handle yourselves for a little while?"
"Uh, sure! We'll be fine," Scott said.
"I'll handle him real good, Officer Lady," Ennard said. Scott chuckled at that and the clown giggled, almost more at his response than the joke itself.
Natalie playfully rolled her eyes, waved Fritz to come along, and started heading back towards the door.
"We're heading to the break room. Radio me if you need anything," she said as they started out. Then calling over to the Staff Bot patrolling the other section of the room. "Come on, Smitty. Let's go."
Smitty wheeled around and rolled up to them, and Fritz was surprised by the scribbles all over his once clean face.
"What happened to him?" he asked.
"Vanny."
"Oh no, Buddy," Fritz sympathized.
Smitty didn't seem bothered, instead loyally following them out of the room and down the stairs outside.
This left Scott and Ennard alone in the office. The hum of all the surveillance equipment being the only thing breaking the silence.
Admittedly, Scott had been a little distracted when Natalie made the suggestion that they were leaving. He was trying to get back to where he was after deviating briefly to show off the footage and squinting at numbers so small that it was hard to make them out even with his glasses on. So, it was that silence that made him take notice. Ennard was rarely completely silent. Which was what reminded him that this was their first time alone since that little incident earlier, where Ennard found his little secret.
The tension in the room increased dramatically once Scott realized it was there. Now he was seriously regretting not telling Ennard beforehand. He had intended to, really. He had planned out different ways of bringing it up, but he had always put it off.
How was he even supposed to broach the topic? "Hey! So, I was thinking that even though Will's dead, he might possess someone and break in some night. Or just grab me on the street, whenever. So, I thought I'd get a gun, since I saw it used so effectively on you, and maybe I'll sleep a little more soundly." It sounded so much worse in the cynical playback of his thoughts.
Then the silence was interrupted by Ennard walking over and leaning on the back on his chair. Well, sort of. He rested his folded arms on it, but he didn't actually put his weight on it. Likely being able to see how flimsy this office chair was from a mile away. He didn't say anything though, just resting one hand on Scott's shoulder, tapping on it playfully, and looking overtop his head at the screen.
He had to do something. Ennard was practically on top of him; eventually he was going to realize that his clicking around was just pretending to be busy instead of really doing anything.
"…So, how'd it go with Chica?" Scott finally asked. It came out as remarkably casual sounding.
"Good! She's… Well, not good as new, but we got most of it done! Everything except the face, which is of course the one thing we should've done, ha ha! But no, they had some kind of protocol thing, red taped us before we could get anywhere near her head. Managed to de-wonkify her eyes a little, so not a huge loss. We'll let the 'professionals' handle the whole missing beak thing," Ennard explained. Other than the part where he said 'professionals' in a rather condescending manner, the rest of his explanation was a little tense.
The fact that this thing was hanging over them so obviously that even Ennard couldn't act like it wasn't said something. Scott took a deep breath and the plunge.
"Should we talk?... About, you know, it?" he dared to ask.
"Oh, we're definitely talking about that!" Ennard said with a genuine snicker. "But- But let's wait until we get home. Not here with all these prying eyes and listening ears."
That eased the tension immediately. Scott let out a breath he was holding and clicked on a video file, then began to fast forward through some security footage. Ennard tapped thoughtfully on his shoulder, still thinking, and then decided to change his mind unexpectedly.
"…Okay, but what made you get it? It wasn't Clay. I know that much," Ennard said matter-of-factly. He had to know. He couldn't stand hanging in the suspense of not knowing when he wanted to understand.
"It wasn't. It was, uh… Don't tell anyone," Scott requested. He looked back and Ennard gave a 'zipped lip' motion. "Alright, well… I had a nightmare that Jeremy broke in and tried to kill me."
"Oh…" Ennard was out of responses on that one. Usually quick to the draw with one, that answer itself pretty much sapped all the life out of any response.
"Not that I think Jeremy would ever do that! It's not that I don't trust Jeremy. I do! I know what happened was just… It could've happened to anyone. It happened to me. He's just, y'know, the one I thought of. I could've easily thought of Clay or just- you know…" Scott rushed out. He rubbed at his arm, pushing down his wrinkled sleeve. "Michael was there too. I think he was visiting when Jeremy showed up… and he was human. I mean, I didn't look like him, but I recognized it was him."
"What was he doing?" Ennard asked curiously.
"Really just standing there."
"Sounds like him."
Scott chuckled a little and Ennard rested his chin, or the chin of his mask, on the top of his head. Lightly pressing into his hair as he pulled back one of his arms to instead hook it around his front. Just high enough that he could still easily work on the computer.
Though for the moment that was the last thing on Scott's mind, him instead sitting there listening to the hum. Both from the machinery around him and the machinery directly above and behind him. He reached up to pat Ennard's arm, then felt over it.
"…You didn't lose your suit, right?"
"Nope! It's stashed in the kitchen. I'll grab it on the way out," Ennard chirped. He squeezed him briefly before turning up his head to look at the screen. "Now lemme see this rabbit lady. Fritz was hogging the whole screen."
Scott quickly wrote down the time he has fast-forwarded to and the number of the video before backing out and heading to that one clip of the woman in question. He had been going through every camera he could since, even figuring out the number patterns that dictated the cameras in the basement but wasn't finding so much as another shred of her. He did however notice at least one staticky camera that he was sure had been Marionette and caught a glimpse of Freddy walking around- specifically after the earlier incident.
It didn't take him long to get on the white speck that was in fact the deranged woman in a rabbit suit. He pointed it out.
"There she is."
"Oooh, she's tiny! Heh, I could snap her in half!" Ennard remarked.
A comment that might've made Scott's stomach tighten if he cared for Vanny's wellbeing, or rabbit people in general.
"I think she might look a little bigger in person," he pointed out.
"Not by much,~" Ennard said in a singsong voice. Though his eyes then latched to something on the screen and he straightened. "…What was that?"
The shift in Ennard's tone alerted Scott. "What?"
"That."
Ennard pointed out something against the side wall, far away from where Vanny was running off to. It looked like some loose wires to Scott.
Then he rewound and saw exactly what had gotten Ennard so alert.
It was a bundle of wires. Except it was scooting into either a hole or a vent into the wall. It was hard to see from this angle, but the tangle of wires couldn't be missed. Or cables, as they were more black cased cables that the wires he was used to- that being Ennard's.
"What…?" Scott asked incredulously, squinting at the sight as he rewound again. "What on earth?"
"I don't like that," Ennard said. His voice dropping out of its typical seconds-from-laughter pitch. Instead taking its less common but equally familiar 'uncomfortably fixated' tone.
"Me neither… I don't suppose you've got something to tell me," Scott joked.
"Who, me? I'm squeaky clean! No unaccounted-for children or anything!" Ennard replied with exaggerated defensiveness. At the very least pulling him out of the previous mindset. He rested his head on Scott's when he sat back in his seat again. "So, what do we do, Boss?"
"What can we do? Tell the others, I guess, but we're sort of limited on options."
"Think it was looking to snare a rabbit?" Ennard asked cheekily. Though Scott wondered if he was onto something. It did seem to start to disappear as quickly as she did.
"I have no idea."
…
Meanwhile, Fritz and Natalie had made their way into the back halls of the Pizzaplex and to one of the employee break rooms. It was exceptionally small. A tiny rectangular room painted teal with a table and four plastic chairs against the right wall, an equally plastic-y loveseat couch in the front left corner beside the door, and a kitchenette against the opposite wall. There had been a coffee vending machine outside the door, so there were no surprises that there wasn't a coffee machine on the counter.
Fritz immediately collapsed onto the couch and Natalie joined him a second later.
"Can you believe they didn't even tell me about the break rooms? I had to it myself," Natalie pointed out.
"Leave it to Freddy's to build break rooms and then not tell anyone they're there. They probably had a deal with the union," Fritz mumbled out. Just being off his feet already sapping away the last of his energy.
Natalie sighed and put an arm around behind him so she could pet his head.
"We probably should've prepared for this a little better," she gentle suggested, smiling sympathetically.
"Sure should've, but I can handle it," Fritz assured. He slid down and tilted his head until it was on her shoulder. He closed his eyes and let out a sigh and relaxed for the first time that evening.
Natalie was glad to see him resting. There had been times were she had to fight Fritz to stop and relax, and in a place like this she would've expected it to have been impossible. Slowly he had gotten better with putting his body before his projects and he was doing much better than he used to, but she was sure that part of this had to be from exhaustion. Staying up all night would've been one thing, staying up all night after the crazy adrenaline inducing escapade earlier was another.
Plus it gave her a reason to get off her feet and just be with him. It hadn't felt like this job was getting between them, but they hadn't had the freedom to plan nights together in what felt like ages. Just having him here felt nice. She might've considered inviting him to sneak in more nights if it hadn't been for how exhausted he was. A whole platoon of friends was one thing, but one Fritz could easily be squeezed into a closet if he needed to be.
She knew there was a good chance that the events of tonight would lead to a huge fallout. Even if Chica didn't talk, someone was going to wonder how this happened and she would no doubt get questioned about it. She would have to work out a story later, but at this point the easiest one seemed to be that she wasn't there, she just heard about it after the fact. She was sure Freddy would back her up, Monty could vouch that she was in the office, and she could likely squeeze another confirmation from Sunny.
As for the technicians who had come in, she thought they had been sent over to work on the security monitor. Tommy would vouch about their issue. They also fixed Chica- for the most part- which would back up them being technicians.
…This entire alibi of course being held together by tape. All someone would have to do is check the footage- if they could find it. If Scott hadn't found and got rid of it himself, or someone else had. The only thing she really had was her side of the story. Hopefully that would hold up long enough to figure out a better backup.
She tried to push the thoughts off and relax while she could. Eventually she would have to get up and do her rounds. Not just to look good in case someone did check the footage, but to make sure everyone was where they needed to be. Then she would get some cleaning supplies for Smitty. She looked over at him.
Smitty was stopped in the corner.
The moment Natalie saw it, alarm bells went off in her head. He had rolled himself into the corner where the refrigerator met the wall and had gone completely still, just like when she found him in the office. She stared at him for a long moment before slowly turning her head towards him. Only to then stop and go still again, staring silently at the Staff Bot.
Though while she was looking at him, her attention was on something else in the corner of her vision. Something standing in the doorway just past and over her right shoulder. She pretended not to see them.
Even though it was only partially visible in the farthest corner of her vision and slightly obscured by a wisp of her hair, she knew what it was. A white head with red eyes staring through the cracked door. She recognized that head even with the eyes dimmed.
Vanny was standing right behind her.
The costumed woman stood there and silently watched her. Her body almost as still as Smitty's was, with Natalie unable to detect even the slightest movement. She didn't just show up, Natalie knew that much. She must've followed them here.
This was a bad situation. Now, she could've jumped up right then and confronted her, but recently acquired knowledge made her a little less confident to do so. Something was wrong with Vanny, she wasn't right, and she was carrying around a weapon. One that she was willing to pull when confronted. They were technically cornered in this room too. Sure, the two of them could probably take Vanny out if she attacked, but one of them could get seriously hurt in the process. In a locked down Pizzaplex.
So, instead, Natalie waited for Vanny to make the move. She stayed still and on alert, turning her head a little further away but still able to see just the edge of the rabbit in her vision. She braced herself and was ready to push Fritz out of the way at any second and dodge if she had to, if Vanny was intending to sneak up behind and do something devious.
But Vanny was just standing there watching. As though she too was waiting for the other to do something, awaiting an unspoken cue to act. It was unsettling but also quite curious. The fact that she was waiting for Natalie to notice her before she did anything.
It was almost like she wanted to be seen.
Before last night happened and certainly before she saw that footage, Natalie had a huge hunch that Vanny was doing this for attention. While her actions had initially seemed sinister, her repeated teases but lack of doing anything significant gave them off as a scare tactic. That Vanny was purposefully taunting her. Some nights she had heard giggling somewhere out in the Pizzaplex or patters in the halls. Initially she followed but recently she had become more reluctant to do so.
Last night changed things. While part of her could've believed that Vanny might've snuck a taser on Marionette, she wasn't going to argue with his assertion that there was something else at play. Something was definitely off with Vanny. She might've just been a woman in a costume, but there was usually a weird feeling in the air when she got too close. Natalie couldn't feel it right now weirdly enough. Maybe it had something to do with her eyes being dimmed.
Was it possible that everything they were encountering with her wasn't something supernatural, but something technological?
Either way, Natalie didn't feel comfortable enough to confront her directly. Not when she was currently sitting at a disadvantage and the other woman had a knife. She would sit here and wait and see what she truly wanted.
A minute or so later she rested her head against Fritz's. She still had it turned enough to see if Vanny stepped into the room- though couldn't see her directly- but tried to give the impression that she really hadn't noticed.
A few more minutes passed. Then… she heard a click.
Curiosity won out and she turned her head back to look. She found the door closed and Vanny long gone. Smitty stayed parked in the corner like he was when she found him in the office.
She couldn't be too sure what Vanny was truly up to. Nothing good if the fact that she could dissuade Staff Bots was any indication- though explained how she hadn't been flagged by any of them. Though she was having this growing suspicion that she had been right.
Vanny wanted an audience.
It was for what that made Natalie nervous.
Sometime later, once most of the footage was gone through and it was getting closer to the time they had planned to leave by, Scott stood up from his office chair and headed with Ennard to the daycare. That was, after radioing Natalie who would pass the word to Fritz, who would pass it on to Charlie and Jake through the radio. With any luck, this would signal everyone to the daycare so they could leave, because Scott didn't want to be here anywhere near six.
It was clear that he was getting antsy, and he wasn't the only one. Ennard was clearly on alert. Moving cautiously and silently, snapping his head around anytime he heard even the slightest noise, and keeping a close eye as they made their way to the daycare. Thankfully, it was entirely uneventful. Both Rockstar Row and the Atrium were entirely abandoned- or at least, they looked to be. It always felt like they were being watched, but in this case it could've been paranoia.
Eventually they made it into the Superstar Daycare. To which Ennard finally loosened up by splaying his arms forward in an introductory, "Ta da!" Which got a long-needed smile out of Scott.
Though when they walked over to the wall to look down into the daycare, they couldn't see anyone.
"It doesn't look like anyone in there," Scott pointed out.
"Maybe they're hanging out back in Sun's room," Ennard offered. He looked to the balcony and listen. While he couldn't see in at this angle, the lack of any talking suggested this wasn't the case. "Or down in that basement Moon was talking about."
"That could be it. Or they're over there somewhere," Scott agreed. He started to head that way when Ennard hooked his arm.
"Not so fast," the clown said. He smoothly stepped in and closed the gap between them, a devious look to his already perpetually mischievous seeming features. "How about we take a short cut?" he asked with a wink.
"What, down the slide?"
"Now you're catching on!" Ennard chirped.
"I think I'm a little too old for that," Scott reminded with an amused smile.
"Oh, come on! You're never too old for a colorful corkscrew! Trust me, I took a quick trip down it earlier. It'll rock your world!"
"I've been on a slide before," Scott joked.
"Oh yeah? When's the last time?" Ennard cheekily asked.
That question caught him up for a second. If only because it suddenly dawned on him exactly how many years it had been since he was a kid playing in the playground. Ennard drew back his arm to instead hook it around his shoulders, shaking him encouragingly.
"It's no big deal, just a little trip down memory lane. Safe as can be!" Ennard reassured him. His eyes glowing with eager delight. "Whaddya say, Scottie? Ready to ride the slide?"
"Well, it's awful tempting, but…" He looked over at the slide and then back up at the amalgam's eager expression, thought about what he had said, and then came to his decision. "…You know what? Let's go check it out and make sure there's not something funny going on with how quiet it is, and if it's all clear then… I'll do it. I'll go down the slide. Might be my last chance, who knows."
"Ha ha, that's the spirit! Kinda gloomy, but whatever gets you to have fun," Ennard encouraged.
"But under one condition. If I get stuck, you've got to get me out before anyone sees me. This isn't how I'm getting back on the news."
"It's a deal!" Ennard eagerly shook his hand and steered them toward the turnstile. "So, this mysterious news appearance. Was it about Freddy's?"
"How could it not be? I was a one-man PR group for them."
"Great! That'll help me look it up when we get home."
Scott chuckled as they headed down the walkway. However, they didn't have to arrive at the end before they got their answer. Ennard caught sight of something monochrome while looking down in the colorful daycare and upon looking closer realized that it was Marionette on the floor. Gregory was with him and seemed to be asleep, but with Marionette's back to them- and propped up on a triangular pillow- it wasn't clear if he was too.
Ennard tapped Scott's shoulder and pointed it out. Then, as soon as the man got a look, he was turning them around and heading right back the way they came with a reasonably quiet, "Slide time!" and a triumphant fist pump.
Scott was slightly nervous, but he fought those nerves and the intrusive thoughts of what could go wrong aside. It was literally just a slide, that's all. He could survive going down a slide.
They were startled by a clatter on the railing to their left. Ennard reflexively yanked Scott to him and away from it and both looked over to see a pair of yellow hands gripping on the lower railing. They suddenly pulled up and a sun shaped popped up to peek at them.
"Oh, ho, ho! I thought I heard a couple of mice up here!" Sunny chirped. He pulled himself up in one motion, hopping onto and easily balancing on the railing, arms stuck out to keep that balance.
"You scared the ha ha out of us, Mister Sun Clown!" Ennard greeted, relaxing significantly and relaxing his arm around Scott's shoulders. Instead of the death grip he had a moment ago.
"Then that makes us even steven!" Sunny quipped. He wobbled back and forth, purposely so, spinning his head. "Where are you two running off to?"
"The slide! We'll catch up later, Buddy, but I've gotta get this one over and down it before anyone else shows up," Ennard explained. He began to move along, now much more concerned in Scott changing his mind than the other clown.
Sunny gave a flustered sort of noise and almost did lose his balance on the railing.
"What? But you're- You don't want to do that! Tha-That's for kids! And that ball pit is full of all sorts of germs. You don't want to go down there," Sunny suddenly changed tune. He sounded especially nervous and hopped down to begin wringing his hands.
Ennard looked over with confusion. "You didn't care when I came down earlier," he said.
"I DID care when you came down earlier," Sunny said matter-of-factly. Him planting his fists on his hips. "AND you hadn't been wading around in garbage earlier either." Sunny's head tilted up and down, looking Ennard over. "Or maybe you had- but you weren't bare-bottomed then."
"Just for that, I'm going to slide all over that rainbow plastic," Ennard replied. His teeth clicking mischievously.
Sunny gave a fussy 'tsk'. Scott considered offering not to do it, but by then he was at the top of the slide and Ennard was eagerly goading him on. The least he could do, and did, was take off his shoes and leave them beside the slide. He looked to Sun who gave an approving little nod before shooting Ennard a look with his frozen face, to which the clown took no notice. Scott started to sit down when Ennard suddenly pulled him back up under the arms.
"Wait, wait, I just thought of something," Ennard said quietly. His voice dipping even lower as he leaned in. "What if you go down and it goes off."
"Oh! Uh, no. It's fine. It's not… full."
Ennard gave a confused little noise. A small 'huh'.
"Loaded," Scott said under a cough.
"Are you sure? You said the safety was on earlier."
"I wasn't thinking straight. Trust me, I wouldn't walk around with it loaded."
"What's not loaded?" Sunny nosily asked.
"His taser," Ennard quickly replied.
"…'s not 'loaded'? You mean charged?" the Daycare Attendant asked incredulously. He crossed his arms. "And just so you know, weapons are strictly prohibited from the daycare."
"Uh oh. He's onto us. I better skedaddle," Scott joked, to which Ennard snickered.
"And please try to be quiet while heading through. Gregory's napping," Sunny requested. He still seemed relatively suspicious, though from the tilt of his face he was staring Ennard down, not Scott.
Ennard gave him a thumbs up and Scott a, "Sure thing."
"Thank you!" Sunny chirped. Then he skipped over to the counter, giving a dismayed little noise at the dirty Bonnie merch sitting there, and started pulling out a container of clean wipes. Preparing to climb in after them and wipe down the slide.
Scott pushed off and slid down the chute and into the ball pit below. It might've not 'rocked his world', but he did feel a weird sense of nostalgia that lasted as he stood up in the ball pit. He shuffled aside quickly, stumbling only slightly, and moved just in time to avoid Ennard careening down after him. Him either purposefully or accidentally flopping back and getting swallowed up by the balls.
Scott reached in and felt around until he got ahold on his hand, which he only found after accidentally thumping into it, and helped him up. The clown eagerly popping up to tower over him with eyes brimming with delight. That was worth losing his shoes for.
The two got themselves out of the ball pit and started to walk across the daycare together. Scott's hands in the hoodie pouch but his arm linked with Ennard's again. In a place like this- the Pizzaplex, not the daycare- he wasn't surprised that the amalgam wanted to keep close. Constantly engaging in affectionate squeezes to comfort them both from the overwhelming feelings that Scott chose to ignore.
To think they made this whole place without him. He didn't want to be a part of it, he dreaded the call to service, but he was also completely left behind. A relic of the old Freddy's forgotten to time.
"Sooo, what do you think of him?" Ennard unexpectedly asked.
It took a second for Scott to snap out of his thoughts and respond to the question. He must've meant the Sun, he was the only 'him' they had ran into recently. From that cheeky edge, Scott had a hunch what he was baiting for.
"He seems okay. A little high strung, I relate to that," Scott said. He smiled. "But he doesn't sound like you."
"What? Naw, he sounds just like me!"
"I detect a distinct difference in fluctuation and pitch. To the untrained ear it might sound the same, but when you're together you can't miss it. You're more like a… a less abrasive Funtime Freddy. In a good way! You pull it off way better. Now with Sun, he does sound a lot like you. So, I guess the question is…" Scott looked to Ennard with feigned seriousness. "Is there something you need to tell me?"
"Scottie, I swear. I never met zat woman!" Ennard pleaded, doing a dead-on copy of Vlad's voice from the Immortal and the Restless. "I've never even been to Vegas!"
"Oh yeah? What about that scorned taxi driver who crashed our wedding, huh? It said Vegas on his cab, and you never paid him," Scott played along. He poked Ennard in the chest, through his own jacket. "I know something's going on, Ennard. That's two kids- two kids who look like you. Not to mention those twins with triplets at the clown college."
"Dots and Spots? I've never seen them before in my life! And clown college? Why would I need to go to clown collage? I am a clown!"
"That's what I thought, but I've been calling birthday parties all over town and you're never there. As far as everyone's concerned, Chunky the Clown doesn't exist."
"Chunky was my father's name!"
"Chunky the Clown is dead, Eggs. He died in a boating accident twenty years ago."
"Zat's what zey want you to think!"
"Who, the twins?"
"Yes! Zey're evil! And those triplets? Bleh! Zey look nothing like me!"
"Oh yeah? Then why did you sign their birth certificates?"
"…I was very drunk."
The utterly deadpanned way the last line came out caught Scott enough to cause him to crack and snicker. Just in time too, as they would soon be walking past Marionette. They waved as they did. Marionette must've heard them coming as he was looking over and waved back as they passed by. They headed to the door and managed to get it open.
Though as they were doing this they noticed the noise of thumping closing in. It wasn't until the door was closed that Scott gave a conclusion, "Freddy", and Ennard an, "Oh yeah."
Sure enough, both Foxy and Freddy came running down the walkway towards the stairs. Foxy looked to be running as fast as he could while Freddy kept up behind him. It almost made them think something was chasing them, and it wasn't until Foxy slowed to a jog while coming up that it became at least a little more obvious that he was just trying to keep ahead of Freddy. He gave a little salute with his hook.
"Ahoy, you two!" he greeted.
"Well, ahoy to you too!" Ennard chirped.
"Hello to you two too!" Freddy said with a chuckle.
"Hello, hello," Scott tacked on. "Are the others coming?"
"They'll show up soon enough. How's about you? You find what ye were lookin' for?"
Scott carefully pulled the floppy disc out of his pouch, having made sure to keep it safe during the trip, tapped on it, and slid it back in. "We've got her."
"Yer serious?" Foxy asked in surprise. Scott nodded. "Well, I'll be hooked to a cannon and dumped in the ocean! How'd ya pull that off?!"
"You know how Mari can pretty much knock out any camera that sees him? She can't. She has to be in range, so all we had to do was catch her down a tunnel. It's not the best picture, but you can see her if you squint."
"Hah ha! I shoulda known! If anyone was gonna get that girlie on camera, it was gonna be one from the old Freddy crew!" Foxy congratulated. He sounded absolutely elated, and he was. "Finally! Some good news tonight!"
"Foxy, that was astoundingly morbid what you said earlier," Freddy said with slight disturbance.
"Why? I don't breathe."
"…Oh! Never mind. It is not nearly as bad in that case," Freddy said. Disturbance quickly returning to contentment. "Excellent job! Hopefully with that footage we can convince management to do something about this strange rabbit lady. Whoever she is."
Scott sucked air through his teeth doubtfully before giving a none-too-convincing, "We'll see…"
"You two seen where Baby went? She's not still scrubbing off, is she?" Ennard asked.
"Nah, she's up in the arcade with Charlie. She seemed down in the dumps- heh, in a matter of speaking. Charlie took her to take her mind offa things," Foxy explained.
"Aww, that's great! Scott, did you hear that?!" Ennard asked. He ruffled his shoulder and whispered excitedly, "It's finally happening!"
Foxy chuckled though it tapered off into a sigh at the end.
"I'm glad to hear she's doin' somethin' other than sulkin' around down here. She was real quiet earlier… I suppose it makes plenty'a sense, all things considered."
Both Ennard and Scott agreed, though especially Ennard. He still felt guilty dragging Baby into it, even if he hadn't intentionally done so. He should've been more careful, but how was he supposed to know that a disaster of that magnitude would follow. He reached under his jacket and rubbed at the still slightly loose wires. He really wouldn't be able to place them correctly until he relaxed.
Those wires suddenly sparked his memory.
"Oh, that reminds me!" Ennard interjected. "There's a bundle of wires walking around."
"I'm looking at 'em," Foxy remarked.
"No, not ME. Some bundle of thick black cables. And technically not walking. It kinda looked more like it was just scooting around."
"…Bloody 'ell, that might be a real problem," Foxy muttered. He turned to Freddy. "You see any of that?"
"I have not! That is very alarming. How can they even move on their own? -Oh, I was not trying to imply that wires couldn't move on their own-."
"I've got most of an endo under here," Ennard quipped knowingly and patted his chest. "And I know wires more than anybody else, and I can say for sure that they shouldn't be wriggling around like a bundle of snakes unless they're attached to something."
"Hmm… That is so very strange," Freddy admitted thoughtfully. His eyes narrowing as though in thought.
They fell into a silence momentarily, but it wasn't long before they were interrupted.
"You know what I'm thinking?"
Considering that Natalie had just gotten done telling Fritz about the strange encounter with Vanny, thinking about that was a safe bet. Natalie knew she still was, even as they walked their way through the atrium and into the hall outside the daycare.
"No, what?" she still asked.
"I'm thinking…" Fritz began. His hair still a little fluffed from his nap and his hands deep in his pockets. "That maybe we should ask Gregory if he wants to come home with us. At least for tonight. Just to get him out of here and maybe get a good night's sleep."
"Yes! I think that's a great idea! You'll have to be the one to ask him, he doesn't trust me. Or he thinks I'm going to rat on him," Natalie agreed.
"We've got the guest room set up, he shouldn't be afraid of Chance, and Chance isn't going to have a problem with him… What's that?" he asked. Furrowing his brows at noises nearby. Only once they stopped and listened did they realize it was a security door.
There was the sound of quick tapping footsteps further down the hallway, on the other side of the fountain, though due to their location they couldn't see who it was. They could hear them running back to the other security door before hearing a familiar voice.
"The coast is clear!"
"Charlie," Natalie answered. Fritz gave a nod and she prepared to call over.
She was promptly cut off by a strange noise coming off from the security door. It sounded like metal dragging on metal, a crisp and sharp grind like knives on chrome getting louder until it was suddenly cut off by a heavy thump on the tiles, along with short crash. There was a short shout from Charlie. Startled by the sounds, the two ran up to the fountain and caught a glimpse of something speeding by and up to the daycare security door.
It was in fact Baby and Charlie. Baby carrying Charlie in her arms and now doing quick short circles in front of the daycare door while the puppet jingled and laughed. The clown's much more subdued giggling only able to be heard by her accomplice with the sound it was up against. They continued circling around before the door got up high enough for Baby to slide underneath and continue skating for the gate.
Sun peeked out of the slide before quickly yanking back into the slide with a yelp as Baby darted up and hopped over the gate.
"Careful!" he called after them.
"Sorry!" Charlie called back.
Baby continued picking up speed down the last stretch, knowing it was likely her last chance to do so. Especially when she caught sight of the four standing out in front of the daycare watching her. Not that she slowed down, determined to ride this out until the end.
The end being when they came up on the stairs and she slowly braked into a stop only slightly past the closer ones. She then put Charlie back up on her feet, her still buzzing from the rush. In her hands she had a Freddy plush. One with large cutesy eyes, chubby limbs, and a little red onesie; baby Glamrock Freddy or something like that. She handed it over.
"Your Freddy," she offered.
"Thank you," Baby politely replied. She held it to her chest with her claw and gripped the stair railing with her hand.
Baby then began the task of slowly side walking down the steps. Charlie taking ahold of her arm as she did. Not that she could stop her if she fell- in fact, she would probably take her down too- but a sort of moral support. A trust that she wouldn't drag her down the stairs.
It wasn't until they were walking up to the group that both took notice of the looks on everyone's faces. Freddy and Scott seemed normal enough with welcoming smiles while Foxy might've had the slightest edge of slyness, something not too uncommon to him. It was Ennard's glowing eyes and open mouth smiled that looked utterly menacing at this angle. Baby recognized it as Ennard's excited face.
"Oh dear," she murmured.
"You see it too?" Charlie quietly asked back.
"I would have to be blind not to," Baby thought. Though she decided to simply give a short, "Yes."
"Weeeell, hello, hello, you two!" Ennard greeted. His voice bubbling out on that barely pent-up excitement. "I take it you two had a good time?"
"We did," Baby said.
"Much better than last time," Charlie agreed.
"And I see you made a new friend," Ennard added. He cocked his head and gestured his eyes to the little bear.
"That too," Baby said. By now she had moved the Freddy into her hand and held it up for the others to see. "Charlie won him for me from the claw machine."
"Oh, that's so sweet!" Ennard gushed. He grabbed at Scott's shoulder unsubtly and slightly shook him.
"Congratulations! I hear those are very difficult," Freddy praised.
"I wouldn't say difficult. It only took me, what? All of our tokens?" Charlie joked to Baby. She then quickly added on, "Jake lent us some tokens. We didn't steal them."
"Don't sell yourself short. That claw was exceptionally weak," Baby remarked.
Ennard shook Scott again.
"Those things be as rigged as a ship sail. Y'know Mari got stuck in ours once?" Foxy chimed in.
"Mike warned me. Speaking of, I noticed there was a character in the claw machine that I haven't seen before. He kind of looked like Moon with a clock face?" Charlie asked, looking to Freddy for answers.
"That is Grandfather Clock. He is a character from the Faz-Kids merchandise line, as is that plush of baby me. It is a very cute set!" Freddy explained. "Grandfather Clock is the character they made to replace Sun and Moon, as they too are young children in the line."
"That's right!" Sunny chimed in. Suddenly introducing himself into the conversation much to the surprise of the others who looked up to see him hanging overtop the wooden door. Holding onto the points at the top to steady himself.
"So, he doesn't actually exist. There isn't an animatronic of him running around," Charlie clarified.
"Not yet," Sunny said ominously. "…Oh, that is such a cute little Freddy!" He then proceeded to gush about the Freddy.
It wasn't long before Fritz and Natalie got down there and everyone said their greetings, briefly exchanged and congratulated Scott on his success to get Vanny's picture- even though he seemed even less convinced that it would help, and prepared to leave.
Which meant they would have to get Marionette. Which meant that Gregory might get woken up. Which meant it was time for Fritz and Natalie to make their offer.
"So, Freddy… We were talking and thinking and what do you think about us taking Gregory home with us tonight?" he suggested. Putting an arm around the blond to clarify who he meant.
"Taking Gregory with you? Where, to your home?" Freddy asked in surprise.
"Yes. Just so he doesn't have to be here when morning comes and whatever happens happens. He'll get a good night's sleep and we can bring him back tomorrow," Fritz explained. Even if bringing him back and dropping him off wasn't the safest idea, assuring him a safe place to sleep was the most pressing issue at the moment. Both he and Natalie were in agreement of that.
Freddy seemed at a loss for words. Completely blindsided by the question, perhaps. Foxy had become accustomed to picking up Freddy's cues, but he had no doubt that everyone there noticed Freddy's reaction to the suggestion. Including Sunny, who had straightened up in alarm at the suggestion and was now staring down at Freddy in surprise.
They all were looking at Freddy to make the call. Or that's how he felt. That he had suddenly been given a decision regarding Gregory's wellbeing and while the answer should've come to him immediately- he truly knew what the best thing for Gregory was- he had trouble agreeing to it. Tonight had made it very clear that the Pizzaplex was dangerous, that Gregory was exhausted, that he had nowhere to hide and wasn't eating enough/
It was selfish of Freddy to make him stay. Even if the idea of letting him go felt so wrong.
"I… I will ask him. It is his decision," Freddy finally stammered.
"You're right. I just wanted to run it by you first," Fritz assured him.
"…But he has had a very long night and is very tired. I am not sure if I should wake him."
"Well, Marionette's going to have to leave with them. So… I guess we'll see what happens. If he wakes up you can ask him, if he doesn't you can let him sleep," Natalie suggested.
Freddy nodded and turned back to the door, standing there momentarily as Sunny hopped down and opened the door for him. They exchanged a look as he passed by, Sunny remaining behind to hold the door open. Freddy slowly made his way over to Marionette, who had his head lifted at attention. He had heard the conversing outside. Gregory, in contrast, was still asleep. Marionette noticed Freddy's sorrowful look and sent a sympathetic smile.
Freddy crouched down alongside him and began to reach for Gregory only for Marionette to lift a hand to stop him. He then carefully caught a hand under Gregory's head and neck before slowly sliding out from underneath him.
Marionette too wanted what was best for Gregory, but while he agreed that the safest option was to get him out of the Pizzaplex, he knew it wasn't going to be that easy. For now, Gregory was safe and fast asleep. He would try to leave him like that.
Except that option was soon taken away from both him and Freddy when in the process of replacing a pillow under Gregory's head he started to rouse.
"What's going on?" he asked groggily.
"It is alright, Superstar. I am here," Freddy assured him. He ruffled over his hair.
"We're sorry to wake you, but I have to head home," Marionette quietly apologized.
"It's okay," Gregory slurred. He rubbed at his left eye. "What time's it?"
"Four-thirty in the morning. Much too early for you to be awake. Or late, depending on which way you look at it," the Puppet said with a light chime. He adjusted the pillow under his head before standing up. "I'll be right back."
Marionette went over to the desk and fetched a notepad and a pen to write something down. This left Freddy with Gregory and with the task he had been given.
"Gregory, I… I wanted to ask you something," he began.
"Yeah?" Gregory peeked out a crack of that left eye.
"…Fritz and Vanessa have invited you to come home with them tonight! If you would like, of course. They have a guest bedroom and it would mean that you would not have to be here when we open in the morning… When we will have to deliver the news about Chica," Freddy explained. He managed a cheerful tone despite the circumstances.
"Wait, what?" Gregory reacted immediately. He snapped somewhat awake and sat up. "You're not going to make me go are you?!"
Freddy was surprised by the reaction. "Err, of course not! It was simply an offer."
"Well, no. I'm not going," Gregory said stubbornly.
"No thank you. But that is more than fine! However, I do insist that you try to sleep as long as you can. Will you be alright staying here with Sunny and- with Sunny while I escort Foxy, Mari, and their friends out of the Pizzaplex?"
"Sure," the boy agreed. He promptly laid back down on the pillow, still tired enough to do so without much fight.
Freddy smiled and withheld his relief as he petted his head again. Marionette soon came back over and showed Gregory the note he had written.
"This is Mike and I's home phone number, our cellphone number, and the number for Foxy's. If you need anything at any time, you can always call us," he said. Gregory agreed and the Puppet pulled over his backpack and slipped the note into the pocket and zipped it up.
While this was going on, Sunny slinked over and tapped on Freddy's shoulder before dropping a folded blanket into his arms. Dark blue and dotted with yellow stars, nearly identical to Moon's pants. Once Marionette and Gregory had said their goodbyes, fit with a little fist bump instigated by Gregory, Freddy splayed the blanket over him and tucked him in as Marionette headed to the door.
"Would you like me to turn the lights down, Superstar?"
"No, then Moondrop will come out and watch me sleep," Gregory replied. Sunny might've been offended if not for the fact that was likely what would happen. "And I like it better with the lights on," Gregory added. "You're coming back, right?"
"As soon as I am finished," Freddy assured him.
"Okay, cool." Gregory pulled the blanket up over his eyes. "Night, Freddy."
Freddy stayed with him a few moments longer before heading out of the daycare and rejoining with the others.
"Gregory said no thank you… for now. Eventually there may come a time when… when he will need a place to go. But for tonight, Sunny and I can keep him safe," Freddy assured them.
Fritz and Natalie seemed disappointed by the news but not surprised.
"Sure. Just let him know the offer's always open if he changes his mind," Fritz said.
"For you too. This place ever goes under, we'll smuggle you out," Foxy nonchalantly added. Something that got Freddy to look at him with a borderline horrified voice. "Now let's get moving, boyos. We don't want to be here when the calvary rolls in."
…
It didn't take long for them to make it outside. Ennard now with his bundled-up suit and Marionette with a plastic Freddy's bag stuffed with his findings from the basement. Scott gave Foxy back his hoodie and got his jacket in return as they all piled into the vans.
Baby didn't expect to get another moment alone with Charlie, but Ennard was distracted getting his layers on and everyone else was doing their own thing. So, she took the moment she could, tapping on Charlie's shoulder and then beckoning her to follow to the other side of the van. Charlie was slightly confused by the stealthy approach but went along with it and met up with her.
"…I had a nice time tonight. I know that is likely inappropriate considering everything else that happened, but I had a good time with you," Baby quietly admitted. She almost sounded shy, and Charlie smiled.
"I'm glad. I'd rather end it on a high note than begin on one," she replied.
Baby squeezed her Freddy a little tighter in the crook of her arm as she crossed them, running her hand nervously over her claw and up her arm.
"About what we talked about earlier…"
Suddenly Charlie felt her own nerves start to kick in. There was that tightening in the music box again, but she did her best to not let it show. "Yeah?"
"How do you feel? About it, I mean. Not me specifically but what I told you," Baby asked.
It was funny how Charlie could get handed such a complex question and suddenly draw a complete blank. It was as though her mind had completely cut out. Weirdly, since she knew what she thought about it only a couple of hours ago and suddenly it was all gone.
Baby waited for the answer patiently. The only indication that she noticed the delayed answer being when she lifted her eyes from the ground back to Charlie. Those piercing green eyes waiting for something.
"I don't know," Charlie dumbly replied.
Baby too didn't seem sure how to respond to that. Likely because she wasn't sure what an answer that vague could've been leaning towards. Charlie quickly corrected herself.
"I mean, I'm not upset! I'm not uncomfortable or anything like that. I just… I don't know how I feel?" she tried to explain. She gave a both awkward apologetic smile. "I'm kind of weird like that. It takes me a while to process stuff."
"It's not weird. And I much prefer a delayed response to a negative one," Baby said. She still seemed uncertain. "…I don't want to drive a wedge between us."
"And it won't! I promise," Charlie insisted. "Are we still on for this weekend?"
"Of course. If you want to."
"Sure! Maybe Ennard will chill out by then."
"Don't count on it," Baby lightly scoffed.
Charlie jingled a little and offered out her hand. It wasn't until Baby took it that it suddenly dawned on her what this motion might be read as. Trying to cover, she shook Baby's hand, which the clown gave a slightly perplexed look at.
She then gave a sarcastic, "…Well, it was nice knowing you."
Charlie shot her a finger gun with her free hand and gave a sly, "I'll be seeing you later, Babydoll."
It wasn't until the words left her mouth that she realized that hadn't come out how she intended on it sounding. Which was especially notable from the way Baby stared at her afterwards. It came out sounding way more flirtatious than anything Baby had said.
"…I should go home and get some sleep," Charlie squeaked.
"Yes, you should," Baby replied. Amusement lacing her voice. She squeezed Charlie's hand and then released it, watching the Security Puppet hustle back over to Fritz's van, body rigid with flustering.
It was adorable.
Baby pulled herself into the back of Scott's van and shut the doors behind her before adjusting herself. She turned around to find Ennard still fixing his clothes and now sending her that accursed look again.
"So, how'd it go?" he asked. Fluffing up his bow as he did.
"How did what go?" Baby replied.
"Your date," he bluntly replied.
She rolled her eyes at him.
"It wasn't a date," she dismissed. She sat there a moment. "…But it was a lovely evening."
"Aww!" Ennard gushed.
"I told her how I felt."
"AwwWW?!" the clown half-blurted in surprise. She gave him a confirming nod and he smacked his hands down on his legs. "Well?!"
"She said… she didn't know," Baby said quietly. Despite her attempts not to, her voice betrayed her feelings all too well.
With Ennard's exaggerated reactions, Baby almost forgot Scott was there until he leaned over and looked between the seats and into the back.
"Did you just tell her? She might need time to digest it," he offered.
"Exactly!" Ennard agreed.
That was pretty much exactly what Charlie said and Baby doubted she would lie. Charlie was almost painfully direct at times. In a way she admired that, as she could usually tell when Charlie was or wasn't being forthright. Yet there were still complicated feelings.
"You might be right. She said as much herself… But I didn't just tell here. It was earlier, back when we were alone in the arcade. We were in a kissing booth- photo booth!" Baby choked and clasped her hand over her face, half wanting to tear it off with her own fingers. She snapped her hand down to send a warning look across the van. "Ennard, don't you dare."
"Not daring to do diddly-do," Ennard said.
He didn't take the bait, but that was almost worse than if he had. She straightened up and continued, putting on a show to not let it shake her.
"I was in the photo booth and we were talking about tonight… And it came up unexpectedly. That is, we were exchanging some admittedly heartfelt compliments when she caught on and asked. Somewhat. She couldn't really get the gest of the question out, but I understood and confirmed. She was surprised, but not upset, and we took another set of pictures once the lights came on and went to go play games. Like nothing had happened. Along with winning me this."
"You got pictures?" Ennard asked.
"Here." Baby passed them over. "I took the first set. The power went out between the third and fourth, explaining the last one's strangeness." She ignored Ennard's proceeding gushing and instead turned to Scott. "You really think that?"
"Yeah, I don't think you should be worried. It sounds like you two had a great time so it's not like she was scared off. Sometimes people need a little more time to process stuff, especially if there's a big decision there."
"What decision is that?"
"The decision if she wants to date you, duh," Ennard replied slyly.
"This is why I am asking Scott, not you," Baby remarked. She looked back to Scott and he was silent a moment. "…Oh, so that's what you meant."
"Not that exactly, but something like that," Scott agreed and slid back into his chair to start the van.
"Somehow, I don't think that's what's on her mind. More than likely she is unsure how to let me down, afraid it will cause the same split my confession could have," Baby said pointedly. She leaned back into the corner of the van. "Charlie and I make good friends. I'm not dumb or desperate enough to ruin that due to my own feelings. I cannot imagine how awkward things must be between her and John."
"Especially once he finds out she dumped him for a clown."
That got Ennard a cushion in the face. He still had that look after it bounced off his head. Of course.
Freddy stepped out of the elevator to find the light in the hallway on and someone waiting for him. He immediately brightened up at the sight of Sunny with a stack of blankets under one arm, pillows and a gym bag under the other, and a roll of Christmas lights wrapped around his upper arm and shoulder. He knew what it was all for, and the two headed straight to his green room to set up.
Rockstar Row was quiet. A glance towards Roxanne's room showed she wasn't there and certainly Chica wasn't, but with a careful listen one could detect the light plucking of bass strings further down. Monty was in his room but seemed distracted.
While Freddy would've much preferred to set up for Gregory in his room, he knew that wasn't possible when guests would be peeking in the window and coming in for a one-on-one visit with him. So, it had to be in the back room.
They moved out some of the boxes and then arranged them into a safe but unsuspecting little pyramid to block any prying eyes. Then they built Gregory's little hiding spot in the corner beside the recharge station. Since Gregory had mentioned he preferred the light, Freddy was sure the glow of the charging station likely wouldn't bother him.
Sunny had brought plastic clips, tape, plenty of supplies to mount a tent which was then made out of a dark green blanket. The only one he had on hand that wasn't patterned so it wouldn't stand out as much. The inside of the tent being a palate of folded blankets and pillows. A strand of Christmas lights was then run around the inside before plugging into the wall nearby. The few lights coming out of the tent having their bulbs unscrewed as to make them less obvious.
By time they were done they proudly looked upon their work to see a fully functional hidey hole. One close to Freddy, away from the workers and guest, and less likely to be spotted by any of the Glamrocks. With that finished, Sunny dusted his hands and led them back out into the green room.
"I cannot wait to see the look on Gregory's face when he sees it! I think he will be more than impressed," Freddy gushed. He then gave a semi-regretful sigh as he rubbed his hands together. "But I hated waking him up. Perhaps we should wait a little closer to six?"
"Agree! Nobody's going to show up until, oh, seven earliest? And they'll be right down to Parts and Service when they do," Sunny agreed.
"We should head back to the daycare. That is, unless you would like to play a quick game a StreetSkate Superstar. Hmm?" Freddy offered.
"Gosh, I would, Freddy-bear! But first I think there's something we need to talk about. Now what was it…?" Sunny tapped where his chin would be thoughtfully and hummed. "Oh, that's right- How did you know about Jake?!"
Freddy was startled by the sudden change of tone. He lifted his hands in defense, Sunny's own twisting up desperately as he looked to the bear for answers.
"Sunny, I-!" Freddy cut off for a long moment before his shoulders fell and he gave a defeated, "…I know about Jake."
"But how?! Did you- Did you see him or hear him or- what?!" Sunny frantically demanded answers.
"…I heard you two talking once, through the balcony. I recognized his voice," Freddy quietly admitted. Sunny dropped his arms and Freddy got a look of remorse, and then solemnly confessed, "But that was not the only thing I noticed."
"It wasn't?" Sunny asked in a tiny voice.
"No… For example, you and Jake had been so very close. When he was damaged you did everything you could to help fix him!… But then, once you replaced him as the sun, you stopped talking about him. And you seemed very upset, but not as upset as I expected you to be. Initially I believed that Sun and Moon- that you were both together, but then I caught you two talking and I realized that you had Jake with you. Though I swear to you that tonight was the first time I saw him."
"But you knew he was up there…!"
"Yes."
Sunny seemed overwhelmed. He clasped his hands over his face and staggered back until he fell against the door. He must've locked it as it didn't open automatically, instead catching his weight as he slid down, landing on his backside with his legs stretched out before him. He slouched forward with his arms falling into a listless shrug.
"I knew this was going to happen. I knew we weren't being careful enough- and that was loooong before Monty caught us!" Sunny bemoaned.
"Sunny, it will be alright. I would not tell a soul."
"It's not YOU I'm worried about. It's them," the Daycare Attendant hissed out. His points retracting as his fingers dug at the carpet. "Do you- Do you know what they'd do if they found out about him? They'd drag him downstairs and throw him in the garbage with all the other things they'd rather forget." His voice grew gravellier as he thumped a fist down on the floor. "And that's if he's lucky- if they don't throw him in the furnace!"
"Sunny, no. That is not going to happen," Freddy said firmly.
"Why not?! They already stripped him for parts!" Moon growled out. His eyes blotted with blue, and his points pulled in as far as they could with the lights on.
Only for them to suddenly release and pop out, his head falling back against the door with frustration. His eyes flicking back to white in an instant. He let out a frustrated little whine.
That was when Freddy finally stepped forward and knelt in front of him.
"Sun, listen to me," Freddy said sternly. A tone he very seldom took and enough to get Sunny to turn his head down to look at him. "We will not let anything happen to Jake. Nobody is going to take him; nobody is going to hurt him. We can keep him safe," he insisted. Sunny nodded stiffly and Freddy sighed, his face softening. "I wish you would have told me, Sunny."
"Yeah, me too," he murmured.
"But I understand why you did not. It is the same reason why I have not told the others about Gregory. It is to protect him," Freddy said quietly. A more determined look took his eyes. "But now that I do know, we can work together to protect them both."
Sunny gave a noncommittal little agreement. Lethargically agreeing to it all without much energy behind it. Only perking up when Freddy suddenly cupped the side of his head. His thumb rubbing a gently little circle over his cheek.
"It will be alright, Sunshine. You are not in this on your own," Freddy assured. His gaze just as soft as his voice was.
Then he did something he had never done before.
Freddy leaned in and pressed his mouth to Sunny's forehead in a small kiss. Or the closest he could give to one. The jolt Sunny felt shoot through his system had to be close to the feel of the real deal.
His internal mechanisms went into overdrive. He was skipping so fast he was ticking and he brightened so much that he was afraid something would short-circuit. Something exciting and warm bubbling up-
And then suddenly dropping like a cold ball of led. Jittery excitement quickly turned to panic, dread, and… and guilt. Sunny felt so good for a moment and then so horrible afterwards. He didn't even feel like Sunny or Moon anymore.
Freddy was none-the-wiser, pressing his head to Sunny's and closing his eyes. Content in the moment. Sunny held out as long as he possibly could before patting Freddy's cheek and then pushing him back by the shoulder.
"THANK You, Freddy! I- I feel better! Much better! But we should really, REALLY get back to the daycare now!" Sunny raced out. Suddenly the door opened automatically, him signaling it to unlock, and he rolled backward and right out of Freddy's grasp, popping up onto his feet and into a stagger as he immediately began to switch over into Moon. That didn't stop him from wobbling off on his way.
That was strange. Though Freddy mistakenly took the weird display as something much more innocent, embarrassment. It wouldn't be the first time Sunny fell into a tizzy when flustered. Chuckling deeply, Freddy stood there a moment, then looked to the vanity.
He found himself wandering over and looking at himself in the mirror for a long moment. The mirth falling from his face a little later.
What a long night. He was exhausted, Chica was still damaged, and Foxy was going to be 'laying low' for a couple of weeks, meaning he wouldn't be back for a while. And the situation with Gregory had only received a temporary reprieve. It didn't fix the big problem.
None of the big problems had been fixed, and yet tonight hadn't been too terrible. That was, Freddy kept trying to find the silver lining. Sunny, Gregory, Foxy yet again.
He looked over towards his couch and the bowling supplies beside it. Somewhere over there was a glittery red bowling ball hidden away. He almost considered getting it out, but then quickly turned back to the vanity. Slowly looking back up at his reflection before turning and heading out of the green room. That gave Moon a long enough head start; he needed to get back to the daycare and Gregory.
Away from this empty room.
…
Everything was strange. He couldn't tell what was happening. It was all just a blur of movement. Thoughtless, shuffling along like there were weights on his legs, staring at the blur of dark but colorful walls and dragging his feet on the carpet.
How strange. He knew where he was, he was in the Pizzaplex, but everything else was a garbled mess. Trying to focus through the haze proved useless. Trudge on and find something somewhere. He had to go somewhere, but he was getting nowhere.
He heard footsteps somewhere behind him and voices, though he continued dragging onward.
"See?! Look! He's just moving on his own!" a light and feminine voice clucked.
"Oh… Oh whoa, that's… This is big," another voice replied.
"Big?! This is huge! What do we do?!"
"Okay, you just sit tight and… Don't go anywhere."
"Be careful…!"
He could hear footsteps approaching from behind again, now slower, cautiously walking up. He was still trudging onwards when a voice interrupted him.
"Hey. Freddy? Hey, Freddy. Look at me."
He was confused. He didn't know if he meant him or someone else, but it was a voice behind him, and his mind cleared enough to take and awkward step and slowly roll his head to look back over his shoulder.
He stood there with his hands raised in defense and his mouth tilted into a smile, his eyes mixed between that and shock. Ears cocked alertly over his head and a pair of star shaped sunglasses pushed back on his head to meet them.
He didn't know who he himself was, but he knew who this rabbit was, grinning at him and coaxing him back.
Bonnie sounded as friendly as he looked.
"Hey there, Superstar."
Mable: Gone, but not forgotten.