FNAF Security Breach: Whistleblower

by FrostByterFang

Sequel to Ruination. Takes place 2 years after the fall and collapse of the mega PizzaPlex. Luis' free runs into the supply depot finally catches up to him in the worst way possible: Bringing about a series of consequences that could bring trouble to the bots and the rest of the family. Vanessa meanwhile decides to orchestrate a rescue operation to save him. Full summary inside.

7. Where Amity Takes Us

GREGORY

Freddy didn't wake the next morning either.

Everyone in the house was worried; and Gregory especially didn't want to leave for school- but he was coerced by his adoptive mother and even Cassie to go. Now, Gregory saw himself as a smart kid; and he knew he could get far in life with these said smarts. He was a hacking genius now, and he knew tech. AND, apparently he was artistic too. All these things could earn him opportunities as an adult. So him wasting time in school? He found it trivial.

But Vanessa insisted he gets a diploma... so he supposed he had to grit his teeth and go even though Freddy was lying comatose in the damn garage. He's missed some days already; and Vanessa wasn't going to tolerate him missing more. He still found Freddy's lack of response an apt reason to stay home, but even Cassie was bugging him about attendance. God, its like his entire life revolved around SCHOOL!

"This is bullshit," he deadpanned at his own mother as she was driving him.

"Say another swear, and you're grounded for a week," She hissed back.

He almost did, just for shits and giggles. But no, even Gregory knew when to call it quits and let the topic go. Didn't help that Cassie elbowed him hard in the side; the girl frowning at him with a sternness twice her age. Gregory stuck out his tongue at her; the gesture just a petulant way of saying he still thought this was stupid. He wanted so badly to stay for Freddy, but even Gregory knew he wouldn't be much good at the house after a point. Roxy, Chica and Bonnie fixed him as it is. It was simply a matter of waiting for the bear to wake up now. Also, he can guess Freddy HIMSELF would push Gregory to go; he'd likely lecture the boy if he woke up to Gregory playing hookie again.

So yeah. He was going. Goodie.

"Cass, we're way too smart for this stupid place," He told her as they'd walk up to the building. Vanessa had dropped them off and was heading towards the hospital now; likely to pick up Luis. "Its bad enough the school system is a hundred years outta date. Not like math teaches you how to budget or-"

"Yes I know," Cassie grunted back at him. "I've heard you a million times! School sucks. I get it! BELIEVE ME. But Greg, recall that we have a mission now!" She stared right into his face and pumped her arms, "We need to help the bots make their own money! Party favors, remember?"

Gregory blinked several times, his expression dumb-founded as he recalled Chica's idea too. He slapped a hand to his temples and gasped, "Oh crap! I forgot about that... yeah. You're right. Shit. Okay- yeah. We'll do that! Guess we're keeping an ear out, huh?"

Cassie nodded, then pointed dramatically at the school itself, "Onward and upward!"

He did the same, "Onward and upward!"

---

Their whole day after that was spent listening to the other children for any signs of interest; as well as tentatively asking if any of them missed the Glamrocks.

Turns out, yes; some of the kids here missed the PizzaPlex. Others didn't. It seemed to be split down the middle in some part; leaving Cassie and Gregory contemplating their potential target audience. And after spending 2 years with Chica, Gregory and Cassie had an idea about how to go about this; they just needed to bring it up casually and show the other kids that they were literally living with the Glamrocks; not just some freaky 'cosplayers' in a furry family. The Glams can EASILY prove they're the real deal just by showing that they're bots; not people in costumes. And by now, pretty much the whole school knew that Gregory and Cassie were being picked up by Freddy and friends in a Freddy and friends party bus. Kind of a dead giveaway.

It was hard to believe that NONE of these kids thought that the Glamrocks that were coming to pick them up had been real. Even Marvin had seen them and how they move. They were too big and moved too articulately to be normal costumes! And too HEAVY. The van sank every time a bot got into it. How come no one already suspected anything?

After their day at school scoping out the scene, Gregory and Cassie were once again standing out near the gates; waiting for the party bus at the drive loop. Gregory had his arms folded across his thin chest; shivering on occasion as winter cold slammed into him and the girl beside him. Cassie was pulling at her bandanna like the gusts were irritating her scalp; the short hair on the back no doubt not doing much to help keep her warm.

"I miss having a full head of hair," she said out loud, her tone dejected. "God, this is so COLD."

Gregory turned to size her up, then pulled off his scarf. He threw it around Cassie's head; fighting a shudder as biting wind nipped his bare neck. Cassie gasped; staring at him incredulously like he said he was going to climb Mount Everest in his birthday suit.

"Don't look at me like that. Just take it," He asserted. "Not like we'll be cold for too much longer. But you don't need to be catching another cold from this. Yunno?"

Cassie looked like she was going to argue, but she relented and nodded. She leaned against Gregory again, her honey eyes locked onto some foreign point in the distance. "Thank you," she mumbled.

"Don't mention it."

They didn't sit for long; not undisturbed, anyway.

Now if only Gregory can say it was the party bus they were being greeted with.

"So where's your furry dads at? Or your uncles? Or whatever they are-" bit an especially annoying and familiar voice.

"Marvin, not in the mood today," Gregory didn't turn around, feeling his brow twitch at the idiot's proximity alone. His tone took on a special kind of hostile; the reply every bit as barbed as a bloated pufferfish.

The other didn't care or didn't seem to hear him; instead moving over and getting within a couple yards of Gregory and Cassie while chortling. Cassie had meanwhile turned, no doubt noticing the other two boys next to Marvin. He'd brought friends today apparently; and that was not a good sign.

Where was their mom at? Or one of the bots?

"Bet your furry friends are fucking each other in the closet somewheres. Or looking for an orphanage to put you back into-" He bit with a sneer so loud that Gregory can already picture it without having to physically turn around to see it.

Now Cassie was irritated too; the girl's full brows falling upon her molasses-kissed gaze and effectively turning them into roiling pools of acid. Her lip took on a special stiffness too; but she didn't oblige Marvin despite her own temptation to comment on that last insult being a low blow. Gregory was sensitive enough about the idea of the orphanage; and Cassie no doubt felt the same in some retrospect.

"So Cass-" Marvin immediately zeroed onto her; as if he could smell her wrath. "Heard your dad disappeared-"

"Don't. Go there," Gregory spit in a tone so choleric even Vanny would likely bat an eye at it.

Marvin continued, his mean, pugnacious gaze a cocky slant of black brows and hard lines. "-Wonder if your dad found a bot to fuck and decided to drop your ass for it. Or did he decide he was too ashamed of his animal fetish to show his face again and just decided he'd wear one of those-"

He didn't get to finish.

Gregory had jumped him so fast that neither the blabbering idiot or his two cronies could react on time. With reflexes quicker than a mongoose hunting a snake, Gregory had snagged Marvin's collar and scarf with a vice so powerful his knuckles went white under his blue mittens. Gregory was wailing on Marvin's face with not his fist; but his own head.

The two fell into the snow with Gregory head-butting the slightly larger and more sturdier built teen with enough force to break his nose; blood gushing out immediately. Gregory already suffered from a headache and no doubt his forehead will bruise or split, but he didn't care. Just as he pulled back a fist so to keep smashing his face into a ruined pulp, one of Marvin's friends- Mitch, if he recalled correctly, snagged him by his collar to pull him up.

Cassie had joined in behind him; yowling and spitting like a street cat at the other idiot. Likely keeping it from being a three-on-one match-up. He could hear clothes being pulled and snow being churned; not that he saw. He was too busy going red-eyed at Marvin and swinging like a rabid wildcat. He kicked back; his heel meeting Mitch's balls despite the hold and angle the larger kid had on him. Gregory had fought murderers and killer bots before; these kids weren't shit.

He was back on Marvin then; singularly focused on ripping his eyes out next. He even went to drive his fingers into Marvin's sockets- yeah, he was going to go there. However, karma or fate chose that moment to intervene:

"HEY! ENOUGH."

Bonnie.

The blue rabbit was... wow. His timing had been incredible and swift. Gregory will have to admit that. He was seized and hefted easily off of Marvin; the kid holding his nose and whimpering into the ground. Gregory wriggled in his grasp; hearing crimson claws tear somewhat at his scruff. Sun was holding Cassie and pulling her off of the other idiot whose name didn't come to mind. Apparently the two bots had come by just as the fight was about to get serious. Well, more serious.

"LEMME GO I SWEAR I'M GONNA GUT HIM LIKE THE FUCKING ANIMAL HE IS!" Gregory hollered at the over-sized rabbit.

"TIMEOUT!" Sun snapped at him instead of Bonnie. "You're in big trouble mister! BIG."

By now, the kids across the grounds were gawping; no doubt puzzled and intrigued by the sight of not only the brief fight, by the sight of the two bots themselves. Some of the kids looked a little dejected by the continuation of the brawl; some putting their phones away as if they'd been about to record it.

Bonnie meanwhile pulled Gregory up with no small amount of effort. He kicked and flailed; Gregory's legs connecting with the rabbit's gut a few times as well as his legs- if by accident. Bonnie was a solid wall however; so he didn't flinch.

"CARROTS. Gregory! ENOUGH-" He put Gregory down and forced him to face him. "Doncha think him being on the ground crying is enough?"

"No," He woodenly threw back with a surety that could snap freeze flowing water. "I ain't done until he fucking apologizes about Cassie's dad and the shit he's been doing to us for MONTHS. I ain't taking it anymore. He's a gutless, stupid, idiotic piece of HORSE SHIT that's gonna regret ever having mentioned our family in such a slanderous way like its an an actual insult. I'll make him regret it. Every day. Without any qualm. I even rip out his tongue, cook it, salt it, and feed it back to him if I have to."

The absolutely horribly straightforward manner in which Gregory assured these words no doubt alarmed the bots; both Bonnie and Sun giving him a look like he sprouted a second head and starting spitting fire at every living thing around them. Bonnie even released him from the sheer shock of it; one brow twitching up and shaking his head. Gregory kept the eye contact on purpose.

Behind him, Marvin was whimpering and wriggling like the pathetic larvae he was in the snow, his two friends having long since run off. The sound of it was strangely gladdening for Gregory.

"What the hey is going on!" Called out another voice.

Gregory knew without having to turn his head that one of the counselors was coming; Mrs. Dunewright sprinted over with Mitch and the third dronie at her side and pointing at the no doubt incredulous scene before them.

"He hit Marvin!"

"Those fur-coated people started joining in!"

Sun and Bonnie twitched at that last bit, with Bonnie turning to frown at them. The jester meanwhile had put the shaken Cassie down and was gently rubbing her shivering shoulders; wrapping the scarf around her naked head.

"Miss- Miss-" Bonnie paused and rapidly shook his head and squinted; then he gawped. "Mrs. Dunewright?"

His recognition had Gregory blinking and looking up in a puzzled manner. He can only assume his counselor must've brought a kid to the PizzaPlex then at some point. At any rate, Mrs. Dunewright paused at Bonnie's sound of familiarity; blinking herself and staring between him, Gregory, Cassie, Sun, and the other boys. She fixed her brown eyes onto Bonnie and really looked; as if she was having a hard time believing he was there.

"Er- have we... met? Nevermind-" She rapidly shook her head and glanced at the kids. She bent down and helped Marvin sit up; tilting his head forward so the blood flowing from his nose wouldn't be slipping to the back of his throat. "What the heck is going on? Someone tell me what's happening here."

Cassie sniffled once; with Bonnie immediately reaching over and patting her head. His paw also put some strength into the motion; cradling the back of her scarf-clad scalp and pulling her into himself. The girl leaned onto his waist and gripped the weird shirt- Gregory just now noticed he was still wearing the odd button-down from yesterday.

"We came to pick up Cass and Greg here. Just pulled up during the fight-" Bonnie gently went on to say; no doubt using his professional 'the customer's always right' voice. It wasn't like anything Gregory's ever heard before; said in a way that gave no indication of his inflection. His pleasant, mild-mannered tenor remained very polite but formal; giving a slight wave with his free paw at the other boys. "I apologize for the intervention, ma'am. But it had to be broken up before it escalated. We did not see the whole thing, I am afraid."

Huh. No contractions in his words. Interesting, Gregory thought distantly. He's definitely using his PizzaPlex employee voice.

"Where's- I mean, I don't-" Mrs. Dunewright was waving around, paused, and then noticed the circle of kids across the grounds. She waved frantically at them and shouted, "Go home already! Anyone who stays gets detention!"

It worked; the crowd was being broken up right then. Meanwhile, Marvin kept whimpering in Mrs. Dunewright's arms about how much pain he's in; amping up the whole 'woe is me' routine. Gregory so very much wanted to punch him again.

She turned back to Bonnie, truly squinting at him like she was definitely recognizing him. She worked her jaw several times, then said, "By chance... you didn't catch who swung first?"

All the boys pointed at Gregory. Mrs. Dunewright ignored them, strangely enough. She focused on Bonnie with an attention that actually had Gregory raise a brow.

"I did not see, but, if it is any consolation, I did hear?" Bonnie flexed his ears. Mrs. Dunewright followed the movement. "I do not know if that would be helpful, miss. Once again I apologize."

Sun stepped forward suddenly; then, much to EVERYONE'S surprise but Cassie's and Gregory's, opened his stomach hatch. The woman blinked rapidly; as if not having expected it. In all actuality, she didn't. She was especially surprised when Sun pulled out an emergency first-aid kit inside his narrow torso. He always kept one on hand, Gregory recalled. He didn't usually wear his artificial gut half the time because of it. Still, it gave the counselor a front-row seat to the fact the being before her had no person inside of him.

"Excuse me, Mrs. Dunewright. But I have this?" he offered it. "May I be of assistance to Mr. Gordon here?"

Bonnie blinked rapidly like someone hit him upside the head with with a fish; then he was locked onto the child before him and his jaw slipped open. What the- did he recognize Marvin now too?

Mrs. Dunewright swallowed and took the kit, nodding to Sun and opening it up. Now she was looking at them proper; the boys near her doing the same. She began to help Marvin with his nose, but her studious eyes wandered constantly back at the bots. She was eyeing Sun with a huge amount of surprise and Bonnie with clear suspicion. She said nothing there, looking instead at Cassie next as she continued applying a cotton ball to Marvin's nose.

"Cassie, sweetie. Can you tell me anything at all? Is anything these boys saying true?" she started slowly, tone patient.

Cassie had a usual immaculate record of being good in school; Gregory knew that much. No teacher had an issue with her; and it seemed she had some clout with the counselor here. Strange to see this favoritism in action here, but he supposed it could help resolve the issue. Gregory knew he'd be in trouble though; and he was resigned to it.

Cassie sniffled again; her gaze mutinous and absolutely venomous as she glared at Marvin. She pointed at HIM-

What?

"He pushed me. I swung first. He called my dad a furry and started making horrible comments about him putting Greg and me into an orphanage-"

"DUDE!" Mitch shouted.

"Not true! Gregory he-"

Bonnie blinked at her, clearly slack-jawed by the effortless lie she was weaving. Gregory too was surprised.

Cassie had ignored the interruptions and flawlessly continued, "-And he was making horrid innuendoes and saying we 'mess around' together or something. I couldn't stand it anymore, Mrs. Dunewright. I'm sorry. I really am," she added with a low and defeated undertone. "But I really couldn't just sit there while he keeps doing this. Its been going on way too long. I was told by the other teachers that it should stop but-" She trailed off from there.

Bonnie and Gregory were especially confused right now. Sun was twitching; pulling at his fingers in an anxious display. Gregory was giving a special kind of look, narrowing his eyes at the particular choice of words she added at the end. Was she... guilt tripping? No... Cassie wasn't deceitful... was she?

Mrs. Dunewright frowned, then said, "I know you said this has been going on a while. So I'm sorry you feel like you had to lash out, Cassie. But you also don't need to defend Gregory. Greg-" she looked at him now. "Is this true?"

Gregory mashed his lips, then smoothly added, "Yes ma'am." Might as well go with it. Cassie's going through the extra effort for me. Thank you, Cass.

Now she was looking at BONNIE. This surprised Gregory further, "By chance, you sure you didn't catch much?"

He shook his head, "No miss. I am truly sorry. We only literally drove up."

"I appreciate the help. Okay, you two-" she looked at Mitch and idiot number three. "Go home. I will be phoning your families, by the way. I'll be seeing you tomorrow. I'll take care of your friend here. Cass? We will have to talk tomorrow too, you know. You and Gregory there."

"I know. I understand, ma'am," she nodded.

Mrs. Dunewright stared at Sun and Bonnie, then said, "Just so I'm not crazy... but by chance, I know Cass and Gregory's actual guardian is miss Vanessa. You are... living with her, yes?"

"We are," Bonnie nodded. "She has been very good to us. When she works, we will drive these two troublemakers to and from school. I apologize if you feel like you need to distrust that."

She frowned, then asked point blank, "You're not... Bonnie, right? Actual Bonnie? I mean-" She looked at Sun, then at him. "I want to make sure I'm not taking my eyes off of a potential groomer or something and maybe you're not some strange man in a costume."

Bonnie smiled easily, though the motion was oddly lacking warmth. "I remember you brought your nephew to the PizzaPlex, Mrs. Dunewright. It was 4 years ago on the fourth of May- cannot believe its been so long! His name is Darren and it was his tenth birthday. I remember every cake. He wanted the Bonnie Glam Deluxe; and his cake was covered in blue icing with clouds and little rabbits on a grassy hill, with trees, and red icing beneath the copse of trees? He likes the book Watership Down, so it influenced the design and somewhat recreated one of the opening scenes, I think. Anyways, the flavor was triple chocolate with Denali fudge and chocolate chips. He had a guest list of twenty; and at least 14 came. You want me to list them? Or all the activities that were done that day?" He also gestured to his stomach hatch, "Do you also need me to confirm that I am a bot? Or have my serial number? I can also playback our conversation-"

She gaped at him, eyes completely round in their sockets. She suddenly shook her head, then waved him off, "Okay. I believe you. Yup. I know those two are in safe hands. Just... tomorrow, can you bring miss Vanessa and meet with me?"

"Yes ma'am," he nodded.

"Okay, good. Thank you-" She nodded at him, pushing the also dumb-struck Marvin away.

Gregory had to admit; watching Marvin's face as he realized these weren't people in costumes had been kinda funny. Even now, despite the fact his nose was still running like a fountain, Marvin was eyeing them like he was having a hard believing they're there. He even stumbled once; Mrs. Dunewright dragging him away.

Gregory turned back to the rabbit- and wilted at the sight of his expression.

"What in the hippity, hoppity, FUCK, were you doing?" He snarled. "I heard you punch him! I KNOW that was you. Why did Cass have to stick up for you?"

Yup. Nope. Nope nope nope. Gregory did not want to deal with pissed Bonnie. Bonnie was scary enough on his own; but dragging Cassie into this was going to get him grounded forever. He will never see that computer again unless it was for homework assignments.

Gregory hung his head, then breathed. He said ever-so calmly, "Cassie wasn't wrong in one way; Marvin was making comments about... er, you? Other you? Her dad. And-"

Bonnie snatched him up. Gregory didn't expect it either; producing a startled yelp as he was hauled bodily to the van and then put back down. Without further prompt, Gregory clambered inside with Cassie following behind him.

"You. Couldn't. Be. In. More. Trouble," the rabbit poisonously assured. "I don't care if it was about me or her dad or whatever. You were seriously going to maim that boy. You are fucking grounded for the rest of your days as far as I'm concerned! Say goodbye to that computer, mister. And wait 'til I tell Freddy once he gets up."

Gregory banged his head on the dash, then asked, "Is Freddy... you know. Awake?"

Bonnie didn't answer immediately; clambering inside the vehicle at the back. Sun took the driver's seat meanwhile. Cassie sat by the window and looked back at Bonnie once, then turned towards Gregory and shrugged.

"No... Freddy isn't... I dunno," Bonnie harrumphed. "He didn't wake up for some reason."

"What."

Both the kids were staring at him now.

Bonnie waved it off, "Don't change the subject, Greg. We're not through. As for Freddy, I don't know what's up with him but... fuck if I know."

Gregory winced there, one hand flying to his face and huffing worriedly. Now he was shaking; and it wasn't just from the cold.

Cassie turned to look at her dad/adoptive dad. "Can I ask something?"

"Only if you tell me why you lied, baby doll. Why'd ya do that?" He shot back immediately.

Cassie huffed, "Because Gregory's got enough detentions to nearly warrant expulsion. That's why. I have a clean enough record."

"All of this is from MARVIN?" Sun asked now.

"Marvin's a bully. A REAL one. A real stupid one-" Cassie actually shot back. "Ever since we started up here he's been riding our tails about you guys and our way home. He hates you guys with a passion and it just- I don't get why he needs to say those horrible things," She shook her head. "I mean, commenting on my dad is bad enough... but Gregory not having his parents around anymore too? I'm sorry, but I ain't sorry at the same time. I actually would've joined Gregory in jumping that moron if he kept at it."

Bonnie worked his jaw and glanced at the other lankier bot; who could only stare back through the rearview mirror. Bonnie folded his arms over the head rest of the seat and peered into Cassie's face, his expression especially solemn. His optics slanted into narrow windows into the trouble mind beneath; betraying an ill that suggested he may know.

And indeed, he knew. Because then he suddenly said:

"Marvin Gordon came to the PizzaPlex a long time ago. I remember him," he began. "His dad, Mr. Gordon, he worked there, same as your dad, Cass. I can't say I know Mr. Gordon well but I've met him. Marvin ordered an unusual birthday package that one time he went; the Monster Monty package. It was a very unusual request because Monty wasn't a Glam at the time- not as popular. Monty was flattered a kid wanted him for a day-" He sighed, his tone low, reserved, and only continuing to dive as he went on. "Marvin had Monty to himself all throughout the day; he didn't even invite friends. He just wanted to have the gator to himself and have fun that whole day. Monty told me after that birthday, he never thought a kid really liked him at all until then. He was side-lined a lot until our Manager said Monty's slated to joining the Glams in earnest."

He waved a paw between them, "Anyways, Marvin aside, his father, Mr. Gordon was a Fazbear construction worker and repair man. He wasn't a tech or anything; he just filled holes, put up scaffolding and poured concrete. He helped build stuff around the PizzaPlex; he even helped put together that Foxy log ride you enjoyed-" He looked at Cassie there. "So, I kinda knew Mr. Gordon? Not too well... Monty knows 'em better than me. They're good friends! Gordon also tends to repair whatever Monty tore up; but he took it in stride like a champ. He even joked that 'Without Monty, I wouldn't have much of a paycheck'."

Bonnie shut his eyes, sighed again, and his head fell heavily against the seat. Cassie's hand went to his face, resting on his cheek. Gregory blinked at the expression there. Clearly, there was more.

"What happened?" Gregory prodded.

Bonnie winced as if struck, "He was filling the hole at Roxy Raceway. The night before, Freddy vanished. People looked all over the PizzaPlex. So I went to find our missing bear and found Mr. Gordon and Mr. Mendez at the raceway where they said they've been running into problems... and you kids know there was a TON of problems with that suspicious hole there-"

"Oh no- oh no!" Cassie gawped, hands flying to her mouth.

NOW Gregory felt terrible. His own hands slapped into his eyes and covered them.

Bonnie went on, "Mendez and Gordon were some of the first missing people reported. They never made it home that day after I talked to them. Their bodies were never found either. I can only assume Vanny killed them or the Tangle found them. Either way, I was one of the last bots to have spoken with him. I know it wasn't my fault but... I can't help feeling responsible for it, somehow." He shook his head there, "So seeing Marvin now... looks like he never got over it. I don't think he got help or anything... the poor kid. I wonder if he blames us for his dad's disappearance? I know Marvin was as close to his dad as you were to yours, Cass."

The kids fell silent there, unable to say anything in elaboration to his damning words. Sun meanwhile filled the expectant silence with, "I still don't think Marvin picking on Cassie the way he does is okay. I can't blame him for wanting to find a source of frustration but that is too much!"

"It is... so I suppose this meeting with your counselor was a long-time coming," Bonnie concluded. He glared at Gregory next, "And YOU are going to apologize! And Marvin needs to do the same, frankly."

Gregory didn't even argue there, he just nodded and sank into his seat. "I understand," he huffed, tone resigned.

"Good. Now, when we get home, we're going to check on Freddy and then sit down for a movie or something. Nice evening for some hot cocoa-" Bonnie elbowed Sun there, the other bot nodding rapidly enough so his sun beams hit the wheel a couple times.

"Didn't our mom grab Luis?" Gregory eventually tried. "He's coming out today, right?"

"Yes! He should be at the house by now-" Sun wondered.

"Gonna need a bigger bucket of popcorn," Bonnie smirked.

Just as he finished that, he blinked rapidly as a small 'ping!' was heard. Bonnie placed a talon tip to the side of his head and murmured to the kids, "That's her actually!" He sat back and said, "Hey, Summer-Eyes! What's-"

"How did I get a call from the school before ya'll even got home? WHAT HAPPENED NOW?"

He jolted at the loudness of her voice; blinking again and then saying in a weak tenor, "Er... looks like... the kids got into a fight?"

"GREGORY. IF YOU HEAR ME, YOU ARE SO FUCKING DEAD!"

Gregory moaned and hit his head on the dash again; knowing very well that indeed, he was in a LOT of trouble.

---

VANESSA

Her day had been normal, she supposed. Maybe too normal!

After dropping off Gregory, she had things to do while the doctors were clearing Luis. The man had been in chipper spirits for the most part, but when Vanessa told him about the idea of moving ASAP despite the question she posed just yesterday, his expression had slanted into a more reserved one and he told her, "I'll tell my landlord I'll be getting out."

"I'm sorry about the inconvenience..."

Luis had only grabbed her hand and said, "No trouble, Ness. I'm just sorry I'm the one that's imposing at all! And I'm actually excited about the idea of moving? Maybe trying somewhere more scenic. Getting closer to the ocean sounds nice!"

And that had been the end of that. Vanessa had driven him to his apartment, waited outside, and Luis was back out with a couple sets of his clothes- seeing as he intended on spending the night with them tonight. He'd have to tell his landlord about his departure the next time she was in, apparently. As it were, Luis also didn't have a lot of clothes so getting those packed won't be an issue once he settled in good and proper. The most they'd have to deal with was his work space inside his home; as he had a lot of animatronic stuff from all the times he's visited the depot.

Once they got to the house, Vanessa was greeted by Chica boisterously; the hen ushering them in with a waving platter of apple pie at their faces. The fact she was welcomed into her home with such a delightful dessert instantly lifted her spirits; and Luis certainly wasn't complaining when he was brought to the couch and given a hefty slice. Chica had to throw Monty off the furniture in order to get them there; the gator hissing and snapping teeth at the hen but she ignored it.

And then she got that nasty phone call. Good mood over.

Vanessa hung up her phone after that, glaring at the TV like it offended her instead. She also face-palmed; prodding at her pie slice and despising the fact that, while she loved Gregory, the kid had PROBLEMS with his own aggression. Despite therapy, it seems he just didn't want to chill out when it came to any mentions of his or Cassie's backgrounds.

"Such a cantankerous kid," Luis mused. "Its safe to say its just him growing up, maybe?"

"Growing up! Dude, that kid- He's gonna kill somebody at this point! I'm half afraid he's gonna lock up some kid in the school basement and throw in a gas bomb outta spite!" she groused. "God damn him sometimes! I love him but he's gonna give me gray hair before I turn 35!"

Luis leaned against her and turned over the apple chunk he found in the pie; shrugging in a way that bobbed her too, "Well, only way he'd learn is with experience, Vanessa. Telling kids off makes them want to do the opposite. Know what I mean? And personally, it just doesn't sound like that school they go to is very kind... Aren't the same kids picking on them and isolating them? And its been going on for months?"

"Yeah... yeah. I guess-" she harrumphed. "Maybe once they go to high school next year there won't be anymore of it."

"I betcha!"

"I want to see them make more friends. Cassie's just... I feel so bad for her. I know Gregory couldn't give less of a shit if he doesn't make another friend again... but Cass?" Vanessa prodded her pie and passed him a helpless look, "She's got such a fragile soul. Its like tough, but also fragile at the same time? And the influence of her peers seems to break her far too easily. I wish there was something I can do about that."

"You, Rox and Bonnie, apparently," He agreed.

Vanessa looked over her shoulder at Chica, who went into the garage once, vanished a few minutes, then stepped back out. She gave them a slow shake of her head. Luis and Vanessa frowned, with the woman going to finish her pie slice and getting up.

"Gonna check Freddy myself. Wonder why he's been out of it for so long?"

Luis hummed uncertainly, his expression wane. "Want me to be real honest with you?"

"Hn?"

He got up and followed her, his stride slow, "See, all those times I've been in the depot, I was looking for something: Something in particular. Ever since learning about Bonnie and the binding of souls or remnant to a physical item, I wondered if Fazbear Entertainment was hiding a room like that inside the depot itself-" He fixed his glasses a bit straighter on his hooked nose. "I figured it was a secret room, so I tended to snoop around. I never found it, sadly. But even now, I still adamantly believe there's like a 'remnant' room or something..."

Now his face took on a severe, haunted quality that prompted Vanessa to stop and look up at him. He went on to say, "Call it paranoid, but I wonder if they have some of these 'safe rooms' built just to- I dunno, maybe do away with some employees so they can use the remnant for future builds. Cassie's dad passing away the way he did always struck me as odd- they kept him inside the building for a LONG time, wouldn't call the hospital until it was way past too late to get him a transfusion. And yet they were getting away with that-"

He shook his head, "And the fact this kind of thing isn't isolated? And then there's that back room Bonnie was in... that room wasn't listed in any of the PizzaPlex maps, as you told me. So to have things like that, it makes you wonder. Vanny herself said that she, how'd Bonnie say she said it-?" He narrowed his almond eyes, "Er, 'I'm not the first evil to have been nurtured?' It just makes you wonder."

"So you think there's like a 'killing room' or something in the depot..."

"Yeah. That or some sort of remnant storage room. I looked EVERYWHERE and literally was knocking on walls so I can hear for hollow spaces beyond-" He rubbed the back of his scruffy head, "But I never succeeded in locating more than the safe rooms themselves and one of which saved my life when the frost bear woke up. I wish I can say I found something revolutionary... but I was truthfully trying to find evidence that could shut down Fazbear Entertainment for good. Something damning-" He looked away, "I still think there's something in there and I just missed it, but it doesn't look like I'm gonna be able to find it at this rate. Still remembering how it took Cassie to find Bonnie's body in that back room and she only found it because the walls were coming apart! He'd been missing nearly two years at that point."

Vanessa nodded, then said, "Sometimes, I wonder how the world would feel if the animatronics themselves went to court with their own creators. That'd make for some case! Could go on national TV!"

Luis laughed, but the noise was a little pathetic. Vanessa felt the same, honestly. They both knew no such thing would happen however; people simply didn't think A.I to be equal as humans; and its for that reason, it'd never work. The animatronics were also, by law, possessions and copy-righted materials the company can legally take back. It'd never work. A human would have to go against them, on that note; and they'd have to have a pretty damn good lawyer in order to win against a franchise THAT big and whose been literally getting away with murder for decades.

Whatever the case, the two wandered into the garage and found Roxy was now watching over Freddy; pulling at his fuzz and staring forlornly at him like he just told her that leaving and never coming back. Her green talons tapped on the arm rest of the chair; her ears swiveling towards them but not moving much beyond that. Her tail was resting listlessly on the floor; an unusual sight, seeing as the wolf was quite particular about it attracting dirt and debris.

"Still nothing, I see," Vanessa broached with her.

Roxanne whuffed; an odd noise. Very canid in origin, but Vanessa was never a dog expert. Dog, or wolf for that matter. There was also a groan that followed; the wolf sloping forward on her arms and resting her head on her folded limbs. Her tail remained still on the floor. "Freddy's... well, I had to open him up one other time to clean him. Smelled blood again. It was trying to move up his throat pipe. So gross!"

Vanessa clucked her tongue, and then gazed at him directly. "No other movement?"

"None," Her amber coals glided over to the computer module. "I'm almost half-tempted to get Bonnie to wake up Vanny for answers. Not gonna lie."

"Vanny- she can be brought back?" Luis blinked several times there, his complexion draining of some of the richer caramel it usually had.

"So carrot-breath tells me. If we wanted, we could," Roxy shrugged. "Personally, I wouldn't mind doing it just so I can tear her apart myself! Never got the chance to do it. Nothing would make me gladder than ripping her limb-from-limb!" She emulated the motion briefly by grinding her paws together and pulling them apart.

Vanessa stared at the chip near the module; the item was covered by a glass case and not connected to anything sensitive at the moment. A wise move on Bonnie's part. She was obscenely tempted to throw it into an incinerator at that second, but there wasn't one nearby that she knew of.

Luis gave her a gentle nudge; noticing her hypnotic attention on it. He passed her a sympathetic expression.

Vanessa turned back to Roxy, "Why didn't Bonnie just... delete it? You know, since he was mussing around with that thing's data?"

Roxy snorted, "Hell if I know? Maybe he's hung up over her or something. He's a weird shit, you know that! I wish I knew what the fuck he's thinking sometimes!" She gave an irritated click click of her teeth there, waving a dismissive paw, "I still wanna hit 'em. He deserves to be bitch-slapped for some of the stupid shit he does!"

"How come you just don't? Nothing's ever held you back before."

Roxy produced a pained whine; then slumped into her arms again, "You know as well as I do I ain't GONNA. Not after I learned I was the one who killed him! Sometimes, Chica and me? We don't-" She trailed off, worked her jaw like she was stopping and starting, then she produced a dejected wheeze, "I don't wanna hurt 'em anymore! I say I do, but then thinking about the fact I had my teeth in his neck and the way he just- gave up. Flopped over like that- how he wouldn't even defend himself-" She shivered now, her tone taking on a weaker note. "I don't ever want to hurt him. Not again. No matter what stupid shit he does."

Vanessa glided over and put a hand on her shoulder, giving it a good squeeze. She also rubbed at the wolf's back, her eyes back on Freddy, "Well, I'm gonna go into my office and do some house shopping. We do have some good news today, at least: We managed to sell the house we flipped on Leisure street? The two story one?"

Roxy looked up, her expression definitely perking up there. She was still clearly thinking about Bonnie's first death, but the portent had a hand in elevating her brows and bringing a slight, tentative curl to her lip-line. "Oh wow. That's like- another $150.000 in our pockets! Oh shit!"

"I know! We can totally upgrade the next house we buy. Just waiting on one other sale, and this last house-" Vanessa held up a single finger. "We just need to finish the other one on the other side of town? Near the medical college? And sell the one we did in that one nice neighborhood, and we'll be golden!"

Roxy nodded, sitting up now, "Yeah... damn! Sounds like we can totally get some kinda mansion, right?"

"Close... definitely more bedrooms," Vanessa promised. "If a couple of us don't mind sharing rooms, then we can totally go for it and get out of here super fast. Maybe even by the middle of next year?"

Roxy grinned now, definitely feeling better. Her expression wavered briefly though as she said, "Let's hope those people buying it don't back out of the deal. We NEED that money."

Vanessa agreed wholeheartedly; patting the wolf again and going over to Freddy, "And you need to get up, my friend. Please." She kissed his nose, which produced the customary 'squeak'! as she did. She pulled away and grabbed Luis' hand. "Come on. Let's check out the site on my computer and see what we can get-"

Roxy's ears suddenly flicked and she said to them, "Sun and Bon are back. Just pulling up."

"Oh- Ah. Actually Luis, let me go yell at my kid, then we can do some house browsing," She said sweetly.

Luis passed her a bemused smirk and bobbed a shoulder. "Let me get out of your way then! Don't wanna get caught up in that!"

"No, you really don't," She said with a sugary sweetness that can rot out teeth.

---

GLAMROCK CHICA

Whenever Vanessa yells, EVERYBODY stayed cleared of that storm.

Gregory and Cassie were yelled at, but Cassie was let go pretty easily (Bonnie would be the one to yell at her). She was still in trouble for lying, but it was understood since anymore detentions and the way Gregory went off on that other kid would've resulted in expulsion. They were in their last year of middle school; they just needed to finish getting through it without anymore hiccups. Chica raised a delicate brow though when Bonnie told them about the counselor's interest in meeting the bots again.

Vanessa blinked several times fast; as if struck by a ton of bricks. "She- she just believed you? Like that?"

"I provided a little bit of proof that I was what I am? Er-" He scratched at his ear once in a character-cued tic. "Kinda hadta. The situation was weird for everyone."

Vanessa left it at that, then turned to Sun, "You know what to do!"

He saluted, then was going up the stairs to dismantle Greg's computer and drag it out of his room. Greg produced a long suffering sigh but wisely said nothing.

After which, the family settled back in and popped in a movie- but nobody was really watching it. Freddy's lack of reaction was weighing too heavily on their minds. The only thing that helped them relax was the news they managed to sell another flipped home; and it certainly helped bring a timid round of smiles and the renewed hope of a larger residence. Chica herself got to work making them a celebratory dinner; ham today. No railroad spikes; seeing as that was expensive and she'd need Vanessa's money for that.

Yes. She was still mad at Bonnie for hurting himself. Again- while he'd been at that depot. And yes, she was still mad at Freddy for letting him out of his sight when he promised he wouldn't. Yes, she was STILL MAD about everything that happened so far, but its not like she had the luxury of making due on half of her threats.

I'll just hafta make more realistic threats and stick to those, she figured.

For the moment, she flicked her gaze back over at Bonnie; her expression wane as the rabbit floated back into the garage to relieve Roxy of her watch. Chica herself had watched Freddy today and couldn't bear (no pun intended) to be around him in that state after a point. It hurt too much, as it were. She still checked in from time-to-time; just staying was what pained her the most.

At length, Vanessa floated into the kitchen to snatch a piece of the ham before it was even ready- Chica lightly slapping her hand and producing a sharp series of annoys chirps and gakeling her displeasure. She narrowed her lavender optics especially deeply when freaking Monty drifted in. He was a kitchen MENACE- probably just as much as Chica herself had been at some point. He'd literally eat garbage too, if he could get away with it. Who knew? Chica herself had asked Vanessa and Luis to program that annoying, compulsive desire to eat out of her so she doesn't eat herself into another death. Its sad Monty showed similar behaviors.

Yeah, no. She's learned her lesson. She knew her older body died because of the way she's been eating. How it destroyed her personality chip, melted her core, and slathered her fragile wires with moldy cheesy so corrosive that it started eating HER in-turn. Sometimes, Chica actually was afraid of eating like that again; and she knew her friends and family felt the same. She didn't want to worry them, so she tended to refuse meals herself and simply cooked because it pleased her. Eating though? Don't ask her to eat another pizza again.

Despite her once prior desire to sample pizzas in other places, Chica has since rescinded that dream. No, she wasn't foolish enough to expose herself to another gooey slice. Pizza makes her crazy; and while her programming has been since improved, she was still very afraid that a single nibble will turn her into another screaming zealot that'd rip a human apart for a single piece. No THANKS. Every time the family had pizza for dinner, Chica cleared the kitchen and stayed in Vanessa's room so she didn't have to watch them eat it.

She'd drool, if she could. Pizza was just a no-no now. She can't have another. NO WAY. NOT-UH.

Anyways, now she was shoving Monty out of the kitchen, gakeling loudly like she was protecting a bundle of eggs as she kicked and clawed at him! Monty hissed and snapped back but got the hint and left. Yes, Chica had claws; only on her feet now, and she was kind of glad she had them. She needed them for cases involving Monty; as he was hard-headed and obscenely strong (too strong for her to bodily remove from her kitchen). He wouldn't budge if she didn't swing at him sometimes.

She doesn't hate Monty- not at all. But damn if he didn't make himself a nuisance on purpose. Why do some guys DO THAT? She never understood that! Its bad enough Bonnie pestered Roxy for giggles. He loved goading her; trying to get her to swing- not that she would. Roxy would tackle Freddy if he asked, but not Bonnie. Chica understood why-

After all, its bad enough she now remembered hurting him.

I killed him. I helped Roxy kill him, she recalled grimly as she sliced the ham apart. I smashed in his head. Smashed in his fluffy head repeatedly and just... just...

The memory of it.

She remembered slipping from the ventilation above Vanny's head; having surprised the wounded and ragged rabbit with a bowling ball from the heavens. Bonnie had been so distracted with Vanny that he hadn't noticed the hen above him. She rolled it on top of his mussed scalp; watched his eyes roll up as he was temporarily stunned-

She'd slipped from the vent's aperture as Roxy drove her wicked teeth into his sparking throat; his voice box flopping obscenely from the gouged wreck where his chassis used to be. No thanks to him not having any protection there, the wolf had easy access to his sensitive wiring. He couldn't scream; couldn't react fast enough- not that he would. He fell backward, still stunned from the bowling ball but also unwilling to hurt them in self defense.

Chica came down and seized another bowling ball. Then, while Roxy was wildly shaking her head and violently driving her teeth deeper, she whacked him again. And AGAIN. And each time, his skull chassis came apart in flaking shards. Her bowling ball started to split; but she didn't stop as she wailed on his head. Roxy's claws found their way into his heart- into his tank- where therein she bled him like an actual wolf would in real life.

She could never forget the expression on his face. The lack of will to fight. The open-mouthed shock he had, how fluid slipped free from him like actual blood and pooled around their feet-

The knife was applied with so much force that it nearly somehow cut through the pan it was in. It literally lodged into the metal; Chica blinking repeatedly when she realized she nearly sliced Vanessa's cookware apart just dwelling on the memory.

"Oh... oh snicker-doodles!" She groused.

"Whatcha do now?"

"Oh my god Monty! Get out of here or I'll swear to clucking god I'll gut you-" She swung around, waving the now dented and dull knife at his nose. "-With my actual bawking talons! I will BAWKING rip you apart myself and cook you up for dinner! I hear GATOR TAIL TASTES LIKE CHICKEN?"

She didn't use the word 'fuck'. Too dirty. It made the kids laugh when she used 'bawk' in place of it though; and it became habit-born to use the censor. But, if the kids were at school and Chica was feeling especially spicy, she may let the occasional swear slip. Not now though; the kids were too nearby. She chastised Bonnie and the others for the casual use of them sometimes.

Monty snirked at her and even guffawed at her face, then waved his hands like 'hey, chill' and finally loped out. Chica gakeled at his retreating tail and turned back to the platter. Thankfully, it didn't cut through, so she figured she was still safe to use it. She put it back into the oven to keep warm while she finished the rest of the side dishes.

Vanessa came in again, and this time she wasn't looking to snag secret pieces. She glided over to the fridge and opened it; grabbing the mango-pineapple juice carton and pouring herself a glass of it. She sometimes had the annoying habit of just directly drinking from the carton; something Chica also put a stop to. Still, Chica supposed it was good she came in at that moment, turning to glance at her and huffing pointedly. At that, the former security guard looked up and inclined her head.

"What's up? Oh-" She noticed the long expression. "Everything okay?"

"I cut your pan... I'm sorry!" Chica shrugged, "It didn't go all the way through but... I dunno if it'll be much use unless its like fixed or something. No leaking but... figured I'd say."

"I ain't worried about it. So uh," She pointed at her, "You look like you're weighting something else on your shoulders. Wanna talk?"

"I... yes. I actually want that," Chica mumbled.

She pulled away from the hissing pots; after having stirred the contents of each. She rubbed her hands nervously next; palms grinding into each other as her stare further furrowed.

"I recall that... didn't miss Howl or... I'm sorry, Miss Howler, was it? She wanted to maybe meet us?"

"Yeah. She wanted to work with one of you. You interested?" Vanessa's smile was gentle, encouraging.

"Yes. Is that possible?"

"Of course! I'll let her know-" Now her expression darkened. "So, did something in mind come up to help you make this decision? Given you don't mind my asking..."

Chica felt an abjectly terrified expression overtake her; unable to conceal it as she glanced away in a submissive show of anxiety. Her hands took on a trembling quality. She worked her beak, trying to force it to move as needed.

"I... I was thinking of... of the PizzaPlex again," was her slow start to it. "And... and... and how I... I've been... I... how I... hurt so many and... and how I hurt Bonnie and..." Her soprano warbled and tapered off; her pupils pinning slightly. Her voice took on a wearier note too, "I sometimes think about it and... I could delete the memory but... I don't want too. Cuz I feel like... its not doing it any justice? Or... it'd feel too easy... or like, it feels wrong to just erase it like that- I dunno what to do to cope with it though-"

Vanessa glided over and leaned against the counter, planting a hand over Chica's own shivering set. It didn't still them, but it helped lesson it. The hen stopped, sniffed once, and forced herself to breathe.

She heard a door open, then her gaze was locking onto the aforementioned rabbit as if saying his name summoned him. He was seen migrating into the kitchen next, his gaze focused briefly onto her like he heard her- she doubted it, considering the pensive expression on his face and the focus he had on the fridge. Chica fell silent when she watched him beeline it for the vegetable drawer-

And pull out a carrot.

Chica narrowed her optics.

"Put it back," She snapped, finding a bit of her nerve. She was somewhat glad he was choosing that moment to be annoying; it helped move her focus off her internalized woes. "I'm gonna make pot roast tomorrow and I ain't tolerating anymore vegetable thefts!"

Bonnie sighed defeatedly, but did no such thing, "I'm sorry, Chic-a-rita. But no can do. I ain't joining ya'll for dinner. I'm gonna watch Freddy, and I wanted to gnaw on this while I think-" He tapped the carrot's tip to his blue noggin. "Please forgive me, but I do have work to- to- hey-" He narrowed his eyes, watching Chica especially. "You okay? You look like you were just told to rejoin the PizzaPlex."

The hen snapped her focus off him and immediately looked away. Vanessa meanwhile said, "Chica's gonna be joining me for the next therapy session. I was just telling her how kind miss Howler was!"

"Oh?" He tilted his head lightly, ears flopping cutely.

"Maybe you can come along too? At some point," Vanessa smirked.

"Nice way of saying I'm a nut job!" Bonnie cackled. His grin was fragile but it remained as he said, "I may take you up on that, actually. Been sitting on it for the last while..."

"You serious?"

He nodded, tapping the carrot against his chin, "I'm stuck in my own head too much. Doesn't help that I have two different mindsets to juggle sometimes. I'd be an idiot to not try it, at least."

Chica blinked, then glanced at Vanessa.

The woman shrugged and said, "Well, let me take Chica with me for this first session, then you. How's that sound?"

"Alrighty!" He turned to leave, watched Chica another pensive second, then waved off, "And sorry about missing dinner, nuggets. I really am! Just not hungry enough for an entire meal today. And hey, if you wanna talk, you know you can come bother me! Anytime."

"I know," she smiled wanly. "I know."

"Good. Thanks for not killing me over the carrot!"

Chica waved him off, not saying anything as he vanished back into the garage. She pulled at her hands and wrists anew, feeling something odd in her motor grow. She frowned at the sensation of it, but couldn't exactly reason out what it was doing. It skipped once, but then resumed its normal function. Her Hud read nothing wrong.

Vanessa continued, "Well, anyways, miss Howler will enjoy having you. She's actually asked about you guys a couple times."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I bet you'd make her a fan," She smiled further, her tone a gentle sound that can lull a restless baby to bed.

Chica nodded there, then turned to the pots to stir the food. She turned off the oven too, "Dinner's ready, by the way. I'm not gonna eat either... I'll just... can I go to your room?"

Vanessa's expression wavered. "Sure. Its your room too! I don't mind sharing, you know that," She shook her head. "And you don't need to keep asking!"

"I thought I should since Luis' is staying over tonight. And, I know you want your privacy with him," she muttered.

Vanessa clicked her tongue, cheeks slightly pinker at the unintended but still suggested undertone of that.

Yeah, she and Luis slept around, a little. Not OFTEN- and NEVER when Bonnie was in the house. Chica knew that much. But, seeing as they were a dating pair, she still wanted to respect that space.

As she pondered it, she frowned at something else and said, "I also have a weird question... um... oh, I dunno if I should ask..."

"Ask me after dinner? Maybe sit on the question while we eat?" Vanessa waved at the food, "I can join you in our room after?"

The hen nodded, then pulled off her apron. "Thank you, bestie."

"Anytime, hun."

---

Chica was sitting at the computer while the family ate.

She noticed Luis and Vanessa had a list of houses pulled up; all of them were nice! Her desk also had sticky notes littering it; each with varying (and gut-wrenching) prices and addresses. At least 6 houses had been picked out as potential candidates for their new dream home. A couple were near enough to the ocean to be an hour away. Those houses were circled; and the notes suggested that Vanessa was going to get the bots to come in here and check them out with her.

She tabbed around, making sure to carefully not click anything by accident. The office near Vanessa's room had been ajar; and the hen couldn't help herself when her eyes caught the sight of a lovely home on her screen after coming up stairs. She even 'ooh'd' and 'ahh'd' a few times. The images she was looking at lifted something within her; and it helped her to feel a bit better.

I think, once we move from here, we'll all feel better, she figured.

She turned her white, feathery head all the way around to see Vanessa come in; leaning against the door frame and smiling in a welcoming manner. "Like any that you see?"

"Hn... this one here- and this one," She pointed at one of the ones nearer to the ocean.

"Figured you would. I wager the others may feel the same," she nodded and pulled up the secondary swivel chair. "Was gonna show you all shortly. The prices is intimidating but, it'd be worth it," She winked.

"We're that close to leaving?"

"Yeah. And I wager you can act on your private party idea too in these other places. Could make us some a few extra dollars to put towards food and taxes when we inevitably run a bit dry buying one of them." Vanessa waved it off, "The idea is not a bad one, at all. And it could even eventually help put the kids to college! Cassie wondered about being a tech like her dad."

Chica nodded, smiling at the image that cast in her head. "I wouldn't doubt she'd want it if just to keep helping us. But... as it is, do you really see us being that long-term?"

"Well why ever not? You're all family. And I don't think Greg, Cass, or me could ever picture living our lives without you all in it. This house is crowded, but it feels like a real home with all of you brightening it," she promised. "This is the closest I've ever had to a real family in my whole life. I've never had anything this good before I got to know you all."

Chica inhaled and raised a brow at her, "You don't... talk about your background a lot. At ALL, actually. You tend to avoid it, I noticed."

"I've told my therapist about it... but I admit to not liking talking about sometimes. But it doesn't bother me like it used to?" Vanessa huffed. "I had a difficult home life and my dad wasn't... great. Had to deal with a lot of emotional baggage with him."

"I'm sorry..."

"Don't be. Its behind me now. I have you guys, the kids, and Luis," She lightly elbowed the hen in an affectionate manner. "And Bonnie preaching that crap about 'all the love in the world', I can see it being true here. I feel it here-" She put a hand over her heart, "I truly do. And its like a balm to the soul. Yunno?"

Chica glanced back at one of the houses, suddenly picturing herself standing in its windows, watching the kids play out in the grass. If she could be watery-eyed, she would be. She nodded eventually, agreeing with her whole-heartedly.

"Now then! What was it you wanted to talk about?" Vanessa tried.

"I was... curious. About certain inflections sometimes," Chica anxiously started. "I get curious about some of the things we see or feel or... I mean, we've had a couple years to 'feel it out', but sometimes, the others also admit that there's some things that elude us. And we don't always understand the differences between certain kinds of emotions that require more nuance. To which end, you can see why remnant was needed in some cases-" Her face fell at that last part. "And... for me, I know my old body had remnant in it. I don't know about this one though... you put it together, did you not?"

"I did. I know every inch of that body, weird as that sounds," Vanessa shrugged.

"So you can confidently say you didn't put in anything weird that you KNOW of? Not that I'd think you'd do it on purpose!" Chica immediately waved off.

Here, Vanessa frowned; though her expression seemed sure. "The funny thing? I don't know if the endo I used for you already had remnant in it... as an organic being, I should instinctively feel it... but even we miss it sometimes. Its why we missed that Freddy apparently had it until just yesterday-" She shook her head there, "Anyone can miss its influence. If your endo has it and I put something in it, it wasn't deliberate. Maybe that endo was being tested for remnant? I have no way of really knowing. All I DO know was that that body of yours was in the cylinder room and locked up-"

She leaned back and propped her feet up on her desk. Her gaze went to the floor, "Most of the endos who go to the cylinder room are usually being repaired or... are ready for another bot. Its possible the endo you're using was ready for another character... and if THAT'S true... then, its possible it was being prepped for remnant, or-"

"-It already has it," she finished for her.

"Yeah. Maybe. I wager though that Fazbear Entertainment has a way of detecting it-" Vanessa put a hand to her chin, "Its sad Luis couldn't find anything useful like that in the depot... But surely they had a device or something that can tell an object has remnant? After all, they've had years to figure that out."

Chica looked herself up and down, suddenly feeling a little violated. She said nothing though.

Vanessa passed her a helpless look, "I'm sorry, Chica. I really am-"

"No no! Its not like you did that on purpose-" She quickly assuaged. "And really, it hasn't hurt me or bothered me or- nothing like that. And if I'm able to actualize, then... I guess Freddy and Bonnie wouldn't be alone in that facet. I wouldn't like it but... I wouldn't mind it so much either. I'd be like them! And we could figure it out together," she gave a weaker smile there, but it was still a sure fixture on her face. "The only thing I'd have to say at that point, if this is true... then, it could explain why I am the way I am?"

Vanessa bobbed a shoulder, "I wouldn't doubt that the endos inside the PizzaPlex, at least the majority anyways, were touched by remnant. The PizzaPlex has... a lot... of..." She winced and shut her eyes like she was bracing for a blow, "There's quite a few skeletons in that closet, to put it mildly. I wouldn't doubt some people there might've even attached themselves to you guys or the endos, like Cassie's dad did. And Vanny herself? I wonder if she was running some sorta remnant-based experiments in there."

Chica produced a sad warble there. The odds of her and the others maybe ALL being affected in this manner seemed suddenly much higher on that note. With that said, Freddy passing out on them suddenly didn't seem so shocking.

"So, considering all this... was there something in particular you wanted to ask?" Vanessa brought them back to their previous point.

Chica fiddled with her hardened fingertips; pieces that allowed her to play the guitar even though she wasn't meant to have claws on her hands. She huffed, "Sometimes, I feel odd? Like... oh... how do I put it?" She produced another gakel; indicative of her annoyance. "Snicker-doodles! How can I say-? Its like, sometimes, I know I still love my fam, but... one in particular, Bonnie, to be more precise, its not like how it used to be..."

Vanessa frowned, narrowing her eyes and raising a brow. "Er, you sure you can't elaborate beyond that?"

"I'm sorry, but not very well..." Chica shook her head there. "I just don't love him in the same way I used to- I know that much."

"You... you don't obviously dislike him, right?"

"Hell no! I still love him to death! And literally, we all love each other to death-" She waved around like it was the most obvious thing, "Bonnie literally proved that. And all of us here would do the same! Over and over. I know I would! But like-" She grimaced, teeth showing briefly in her beak, "I feel like the quality of it is different with him? I guess its just because of what we've been through though... and, the idea of hurting him again just-" Her eyes shut as if to block it out. "I don't think I'd let myself continue to function if I did that to him again. I can't."

Vanessa's brows were doing a weird little dance on her face, but then they shot up into true SHOCK as her brows nearly touched her hair line. She blinked rapidly, then smacked a hand to her face as something clicked.

"Oh my god!"

"Huh?"

She removed her feet from the desk, then gawped at Chica like she sprouted a second head, "Oh my god! NO way- No frickin' way. I think... I think like... oh my god. No way!"

"What?"

Vanessa's expression twisted, a smile dancing there as well as shock and mild amounts of disbelief. She leaned in and tented her hands, somewhat covering her mouth and eyeing the hen like she was singularly the most fascinating creature in all the world.

"I wonder... it can't be possible but... maybe it is," she mused aloud. "I mean... Vanny liked him and... she didn't even have remnant!"

NOW Chica gets it. The hen would feel something on her face twitch, if it could. Her beak chittered on itself a bit in irritated notions, but couldn't move much beyond that. She took on a stony appearance as Vanessa continued.

"I think you LIKE him! LIKE LIKE him. Bonnie, I mean-" She pointed out, gesturing to the hen with both her hands clapped together still. "I mean, literally what you just said- it kinda spells it out, but not quite like, obviously?"

"I don't get it."

"I don't think you can get it, not too well, anyways. See-" Vanessa leaned back on her chair again, "Vanny understood human emotions quite well after being in my head for so long. She had a front-row seat to watching how humans work, and their emotions. She may have been code, but she understood. She was able to tell what I feel too- and when I had that job as a programmer, she was able to sit in my seat and watch my coworkers. She observed how they worked, and it allowed her the knowledge of how to... well, manipulate them into the PizzaPlex and do her usual thing." Her expression darkened. "Vanny was an effective killer because she understood how people work. She even got Bonnie to respect her, despite the fact she's a wicked piece of work. Kinda goes to show."

Chica produced an annoyed noise there- to which Vanessa pointed at her and added, "There. Right there. You felt something horrid upon me mentioning that she liked him and he respected her, huh?"

"Of course I do! Ain't that normal though? I mean- respecting a serial killer?" Chica waved around like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"No no... I mean yeah, but I mean-" Vanessa waved her hands around tried to explain, "Jealously, Chica. Its jealously I mean to point out here. How to properly explain that emotion-? You want something someone else has, whether its an object or their attention or focus- and it kinda just- god this is hard!" She giggled uncertainly there, "Even people can't hardly fathom that nasty feeling sometimes. But anyways, didn't you just feel like there's this tiny, bitter, angry little kernel of spite in you at the mention of the topic of Vanny liking him?"

"Well yeah. Ain't that to be expected?"

"We'll need to find a way to separate the feeling a little bit better... cuz god this is so hard to explain," She harrumphed. "But anyways, I think you like Bonnie. Like, you're interested in him like how I like Luis?"

Chica shook her head like that was the craziest and stupidest thing in the whole world. She 'bah'd!' at that and folded her arms, "That's utter tripe, Vanessa. I'm sorry for how rude that is, but that's just so weird. There's no benefit to that for us! Not like we could- you know what I mean! Oh my god this is so weird-" She buried her face into her hands.

Vanessa shrugged, not at all dissuaded. "I'm still under the impression you like him. And really, Chica, considering there could be ANY trace of remnant in any and all of you, it doesn't surprise me. And you guys already feel affection without the aid of remnant... I guess caring and loving to the capacity you do would be the natural next step in full sentience. Its... a good thing, I think!"

Chica raised a brow, rapping her hardened fingertips on the desk. She felt like she wanted to just bail out of this conversation completely.

Vanessa continued, "The thing with love: It takes many forms, but it does have a basis in forming meaningful connections and helping us to 'actualize' in a different way. And no, I don't mean actualize like Freddy and Bonnie did- I mean in a different way. Love matters to people; and its natural to want to feel it. You felt familial love for a long time. And then you have unconditional love- and then there's brotherly love? That or sisterly, the two terms mean the same thing though; a strong connection with someone that's a bit different than familial love. And then, there's romantic love-" She waved two fingers around there; one on each hand around her in a circle. "No matter how you slice it, all love is love, as Bonnie would probably say. And it doesn't surprise me that one of you would feel something like that after all you've been through."

Her hands lowered and she continued with, "I can't exactly define all these different terms though without it becoming controversial and potentially more confusing... but the feelings they instill beyond love itself has its nuances. But at their core, that desire to want to be with that person, to be there for them, to want to do more for them, or hope for more for them, all of these loves have that in common-" She intertwined her fingers together, "It just so happens that romantic love has a... different intention to it."

"Which makes this more confusing for me," Chica rolled her eyes.

Vanessa shrugged, "Maybe not so. That desire to want to be there for Bonnie is still very realistic and sweet. It doesn't change the fact that you want to spend time in that person's company; to hold them or be there with them in any capacity. And again, its to be expected if you have remnant in you. In fact, if that part IS true, I wonder if its just you 'remembering' what it felt like to love or be in love in a different life?"

"You saying it may not be genuine, or my own?"

"We just don't know! You can kinda see why Vanny was fucking around with it, on that note," She huffed.

Chica shook her head and propped a hand up under her beak, "It just feels weird now."

"Its supposed to. That's what love is; just straight weird and a roller coaster of weird all the ride through," Vanessa sighed. "Guess it doesn't help that we also have all these other weird, contending factors to weigh in..."

Chica just groaned there.

Vanessa continued, "Anyways, and now, in lew of this, I can almost be certain you have that kind of romantic idea of it in your head. I'm not 100% certain, and its something I'd like to explore with you-" she gestured between them. "Maybe we can find the lines and draw them together. It could help! Who knows? Maybe I'm wrong and you really don't feel that much differently than usual. Maybe you just feel like... considering what happened with him, you feel like, obligated to care more?"

Somehow, Chica didn't know why, but she got that feeling that wasn't the case. She gazed back at Vanessa's computer; the screen having gone dark a long time ago after playing a screensaver with bumblebees hovering in it. She sighed, then turned back to the woman whose so kindly housed and fixed her. "You really think... a robot could love like that? That is just so- so dumb."

"I ain't devaluing it. You guys are sentient, fully. And if I say a robot has no capacity or ability to love like that in this world, then I'd be kinda backtracking on my prior conceptions of you guys being fully individualized souls. All love, romantic included, only helps to validate that you're human in your own way. And that you have a soul of your own; and you don't apparently need remnant to love someone so much and so powerfully," She smiled, giving her an encouraging churn of lip.

Chica still found it to be strange and stupid, and even she herself found it to be an improbability. "I just can't help wondering if this affection you speak of isn't just me finding a strange way to cope with how I feel about Bonnie after I've hurt him so badly-" She waved it off, "Maybe I'm just getting the feelings mixed up?"

"Perhaps! But even THEN, that's still very organic and realistic," Vanessa shrugged. "Only serves to further validate your existence as thinking, feeling beings. And since you're confused about the matter, you can ask my therapist? It could help!"

Chica nodded again, and with more surety this time. "Now that's an idea, I suppose! So, by chance... your therapist ever heard that bit about remnant before, hm?"

Vanessa's expression wavered. That answered Chica's sardonic question.

"I wondered about bringing it up," Vanessa shrugged. "But... she already doesn't believe me about a lot of the stuff we've done..."

"She sounded nice and that she DID believe you until now... what makes you think she doesn't?" Chica shrugged at her, "And 'sides, I dunno if I can just ask her without, at some point, mentioning that I MAY have remnant in me too!"

"Oh dear... oh... you're right," She face-palmed. "Yeah... I guess our next visit is gonna be an interesting one!"

The hen sniffed, passing a shrug and then stretching her limbs over her head, "Now that I feel thoroughly confused and completely embarrassed, I think I wanna float on out of here and bury my beak into some house work for the rest of the night and not show my face to anyone else! I definitely don't wanna stay lingering on this topic!"

Vanessa passed her a wry smirk, as if that validated her earlier point. She said nothing though, then waved her off, "Alrighty. Sun or Eclipse or whoever he's feeling right now has likely put the food away by now. I'm gonna hop to bed meanwhile... you can have my office if you want?"

Chica glanced around, focused onto the computer with sudden intention, and said, "Sure! I'll sleep in here tonight. No biggie. In fact, can I use your device?"

"Oh- yeah, I guess? Sure," She shrugged.

Chica nodded, then dipped faster than Vanessa can react. She was VERY done with this conversation, and quite unable to deal with the idea that maybe, just maybe, she felt something different now.

Saying one cannot love at all did sound like it would be invalidating her own feelings... so in hindsight, Chica supposed there was a crude logic in there. But to say she felt affection of that caliber to the idiot rabbit whose more likely to probably gravitate towards FREDDY with similar feelings was saying something. But, now that she dawned back no it, the soul of Cassie's father would no doubt recall what it felt like to have loved at some point; after all, it showed in how the rabbit treated Cassie and reflected in some of the things he does. He 'remembered' quite well. And Cassie's father definitely had a wife at some point.

She paused there, frowning at the fact that she knew nothing of this woman- beyond the fact that she may not be around anymore. The fact Cassie had to have a foster family before Vanessa adopted her said enough. Was her mother dead? Did she move away and just drop all contact? She actually didn't know even though she's lived with the girl for 2 years! Did Cassie's father miss her? Did feeling something towards her inspire certain intricacies to Bonnie's odd behaviors?

She looked at her hand and clenched it, trying to ponder her own sentiment towards Bonnie. Could it be that Vanessa was right? That she romanticizes the idea of loving Bonnie and she may feel true affection of that caliber? Was this what real sentience was? Its not like robots can reproduce- and the idea of it did not simply matter to them. She figured after a point, they never felt affection like that because it had to be chemical at its most base. The concept was very alien and it posed no intrigue to Chica. But then, how can she explain this? Guess she supposed she was glad she had access to Vanessa's computer for the night.

Chica drifted back downstairs for the time being, finding that the movie was over and the kitchen was partially clean now. The jester bot was still in here; and he was doing the dishes for her. And considering the nightcap, hybrid color, and general movement of the bot, she supposed it was Eclipse who was standing at the sink right now.

He didn't tend to do dishes; the gloves Chica wore whenever she did them didn't fit his long-boned fingers too well. He hadn't done that many either; obviously struggling but he didn't complain. In fact, he was humming a gentle tune; Chica smiling at the sound of it. She loved hearing him! So she joined his side, grabbed the spare pair of gloves from the drawer, and helped him with the dishes. She smiled at his face and was rewarded with a soft look from him too.

"Have you been well?" He asked gently.

"Was talking to Ness about something. Was worried, but now? I feel a bit better," She shrugged. Now she frowned, "And also more confused, but that's another story. And you?"

"I've been good! And, I suppose its fair to say that... I'm sorry for earlier."

"What for-?"

"I overheard you- I apologize for that," he began with a noticeable dip of his head. "I didn't mean to but... after a point, I grew to be curious and could not help but wonder of my own time at the PizzaPlex too- upon hearing you."

Chica burbled sadly, "You were trapped for so long inside of Moon... the both of you. Stuck in a suffocating choke-hold and in darkness. I'm surprised you don't have your own outbursts."

He shrugged casually, "I cope in the best way I can. Moon is... apologetic. Its why you don't see him that much. He does not take over too much anymore, as he is aware he has a dominating and harsh personality. He feels guilt towards the things he's done- like try to hurt Cassie, actually hurting people who enter the PizzaPlex after it closed, and having a hand in trying to take apart Bonnie-" He passed her a grim look, "Its something he has in common with you."

"He... he tried taking Bonnie apart?"

"Yes. He was the one who ripped Bonnie's throat out before Roxanne finished the job. He actually had Bonnie on the ropes until the rabbit threw us- it happened in the, what was it, the Super Starcade?"

Chica felt her beak come open. She had not known Moon had helped with his destruction. Her gaze narrowed into one of pity, "Oh god... we all hurt him! ALL OF US."

"Yes... we did," He sighed.

Chica turned back to the dishes, "I'm just glad that's behind us. Its hard to believe sometimes that we're okay now and we have our own lives."

"We aren't toys anymore. Not tools, or things to be broken and put back together," He murmured in an intimate tone. "We are our best selves; and we have room to continue to grow in this capacity. And I sit here, every day, and I wonder, 'what turn will my life take now'? And even if we're greeted with adversity, I'd be happy to face it because now I have room to become more if I so desired! And no one to impose I feel what way or the other ever again." His flexing lower mandible fitted itself more fully into his mask in a sense to emulate a smile, his optics and easy setting of his new brows slanting in a way to further indicate it to be so. "I'm just happy. Not content, but happy."

Chica smiled, nudged him back, and burbled yet again, "Same here, hun. I love you, by the way. All three of you!"

He looked away as if embarrassed. "I love all of you too. I don't think at any point in my life as a bot I've ever had the luxury of feeling such a complete sense of belonging before. Sun, Moon and I have always kept apart from you all- couldn't get to know you better. But I like how that's changed!"

"Same here," Chica assured. "If feels like we were only strangers back at the PizzaPlex. We lived together but didn't? It was so weird."

"No doubt."

Chica shrugged, "So, Eclipse. Didn't you wanna perform for the kids again?"

He seemed to brighten there, "I had an idea on how to do it? Or... well, I will not be offering anymore daycare services- I do not think I'm meant for that. But performing thrills me! All our sides love it-" He put a long-fingered hand to his narrow chest, "And I especially love playing instruments! I think I want to try the violin?"

"Oh my god! That'd be amazing!" Chica giddily pumped her arms. "Oh my god you'd be SO good!"

"You wager?"

"I know so! Oh my god- yes! Totally!"

Eclipse's lower mandible flexed again and he smiled up at her in a sheepish way indicating some manner of embarrassment. He looked away just as quickly.

"Hey," Chica elbowed him. "Once we're done, wanna star-gaze together?"

"We'd love that," He reciprocated with such warmth that Chica felt it herself.

"OH MY GOD, GUYS!"

Bonnie's raucous tenor had Chica's feathers fluff up out of fright; Eclipse jumping similarly next to her. They turned and found the rabbit poking his head out of the garage, his expression elated.

"Freddy's AWAKE!"