Chapter 12: The Hardest To Love

Elijah's POV:

It's been even more busy at the Pizzaplex during the day these past few weeks because of the new attractions that Scott built in. So far, everything has been going well. Except for two things. Monty and I's relationship is out in the open for the other animatronics, however, we haven't made it open to the public yet. Not even Scott, Scarlett, Gregory, or the twins either. The both of us are worried about how everyone else would react to a human-animatronic relationship. Also, I haven't been able to see him during the day as often because of how busy it has gotten. I'm glad though that I get to spend so much time with him during the night. The other thing was that I noticed Bonnie and Freddy were drifting away from each other. It was starting to affect their work at the Pizzaplex. I've tried talking to both of them separately, but they just keep pushing me away. I just wish I could help them out.

"What are you thinking about now, princess?" I heard Monty's sexy, deep voice in a soft tone by my ear. It took me out of my thoughts very quickly.

Monty and I were hanging out with Chica in her green room, helping her clean up. Some kids threw a bunch of garbage and mush around her green room while she was away before the Pizzaplex closed. She started crying out of sadness. It brought back the nightmare of her trash-eating disorder. Monty and I were in Rockstar Row when we heard her crying. We calmed her down eventually. I felt so bad for her, but also I was mad at whoever did this to her.

"I'm just thinking about how handsome you are", I playfully lied to him while facing him.

"Elijah", Monty grumbled my name.

"Yes, Monty?" I smiled brightly at him.

"I know that's not what you're thinking about", Monty crossed his arms.

"Fine", I grumbled cutely.

Monty just chuckled at that and ruffled my hair.

"Well, I was thinking about how Freddy and Bonnie have been", I sighed heavily.

"Yeah, to be honest, I've been noticing it as well", Chica piped up while finishing sweeping the tiled floor.

"I've tried asking both of them what's wrong, but they keep pushing me away", I looked down sadly at the carpeted ground.

I felt Monty's hand cup my face soothingly. "I know you're just looking out for friends, princess. I love you for that". I looked up at him trying not to let tears well up in my eyes. Embracing him, I felt him gently kiss my head.

"Aweee!" I heard Chica coo at how cute we just were.

"Chica", Monty grumbled playfully.

I laughed from what I was hearing, even though my face was in Monty's chest.

"Oh! I have an idea, chickadee!" Chica jumped with joy all of a sudden.

I pull my face out of Monty's chest. "What's your idea?" I raised an eyebrow out of curiosity.

"How about that make-your-own-pizza party night that I suggested not too long ago?" Chica beamed, "It will be a great way to get whatever is on their minds!"

Monty and I looked at each other for a second before Monty spoke, "I'm down for it.".

"If it will be fun for everyone, I'm in", I softly smiled at Chica.

Chica clapped her hands together excitedly, her sweeping completely forgotten. "Yay! I'll start planning it out! Oh, this is going to be so much fun!"

She dashed out of the room with her broom still in hand, already mumbling to herself about toppings, decorations, and "cute little chef hats."

Monty chuckled as he watched her leave, shaking his head. "She's got enough energy for ten animatronics. I don't know how Freddy keeps up with her sometimes."

"Yeah…" I trailed off, my thoughts shifting back to Freddy and Bonnie. "I just hope this works. I hate seeing them like this, Monty. It's not like them to be so… distant."

Monty slid his arm around my waist, pulling me closer. "Princess, you're doing everything you can. You care about your friends, and that's what counts. Let's just see how this pizza party thing goes. Worst case, it doesn't fix anything, but at least they'll know someone's trying to help."

I nodded, leaning into his warmth. "You're right. It's worth a shot."

Monty smirked down at me, his sharp teeth catching the light. "'Course I'm right. Now, you wanna head back to Rockstar Row, or you wanna stick around and help Chica bake imaginary pizzas in her head?"

I laughed softly. "I think we've done enough cleaning for one night. Let's go."

I shot Scarlett a text to bring Gregory and the twins to the Pizzaplex for the pizza party. Once it was sent, I put my phone back into my pocket and grabbed Monty's hand. As we walked out of Chica's green room, the mess finally cleaned up, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that there was more to Freddy and Bonnie's problems than I understood. Whatever was happening between them, it wasn't just affecting their work—it was affecting the entire vibe of the Pizzaplex.

We arrived at the kitchen that Chica was in, no later than like five minutes. I was hoping the kitchen wasn't already a mess by the time we got there, knowing our overly excited chicken animatronic friend. Chica had gone full speed ahead with her pizza party idea, enlisting me and Monty to help set up. She was adamant about making it a surprise, which meant we had to work quickly before Freddy or Bonnie caught wind of it.

Chica was a whirlwind of energy, setting up tables, scattering colorful napkins, and organizing a buffet of pizza toppings. "Do you think Bonnie likes pineapple? Should I put out extra olives? Oh, what about anchovies? Maybe that's the secret to bringing them together—anchovies!"

"Chica," Monty interrupted, holding up his hands. "You're gonna stress yourself into a reboot. Calm down."

She huffed, puffing out her cheeks. "I just want everything to be perfect! Freddy and Bonnie deserve that!"

I was helping with making the dough. "They'll appreciate the effort, Chica. Don't worry so much."

She smiled at me, her feathers fluffing slightly in gratitude. "Thanks, Elijah. You're the best."

As we finished the setup, I rinsed my hands off and pulled my phone out of my pocket again. I saw that Scarlett was on her way with the twins. Gregory was unfortunately sick at school today, so he's staying home. However, Scarlett was going to make him a pizza though. I put my phone back into my pocket when I was done reading the text. Chica was sending out a text to the other animatronics on her Fazwatch to meet her in the kitchen she was in for a surprise. Looking over at the entrance to the kitchen, I had this nagging feeling about Freddy and Bonnie.

What if they didn't even show up?

When the party started, Chica's excitement was contagious. She bounced around, guiding everyone to their stations. Monty stuck close to me, his hand occasionally brushing mine when he thought no one was looking.

Freddy arrived first, looking as polished and composed as ever, though his usual cheerful demeanor seemed muted. "This is a lovely idea, Chica," he said, his voice warm but subdued.

"Thank you, Freddy!" she chirped. "Now, go grab some dough and get creative!"

Bonnie arrived a few minutes later, his usual swagger replaced by a tense, almost hesitant energy. He glanced around the room, his ears twitching slightly as he spotted Freddy.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

"Uh-oh," Monty muttered under his breath. "This might get interesting."

I shot him a look, silently begging him to behave.

"Hey, Freddy," Bonnie finally said, his voice a little too casual.

"Hey," Freddy replied, equally guarded.

The tension between them was thick enough to cut with a pizza slicer. Chica, bless her heart, seemed oblivious as she dragged both of them to the topping station.

"Come on, you two! Let's see who can make the best pizza!" she said, her enthusiasm unshaken.

Monty leaned down to whisper in my ear. "Think this'll work?"

"I fucking hope so," I whispered back, watching as Freddy and Bonnie awkwardly started assembling their pizzas side by side.

As the night went on, I noticed small cracks in their frosty demeanor. Freddy made a dry joke about Bonnie's messy cheese pile, and Bonnie retaliated by playfully flicking a pepperoni slice at him. It wasn't much, but it was something.

Maybe Chica's idea really would help after all.

But deep down, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to their rift than just a simple misunderstanding.

And I wasn't sure if a pizza party was enough to fix it.

As Freddy and Bonnie continued working side by side, the atmosphere in the room gradually shifted. Sun was making a masterpiece of a pizza of his own. Roxy and Foxy were having a competition of their own. Chica's cheerful chatter filled the air, making it difficult for anyone to stay tense for too long. Monty stayed by my side, his hand resting lightly on my lower back as we watched the two animatronics interact.

"It's nice to see them talking," I whispered, leaning into Monty.

He hummed in agreement, though his expression remained skeptical. "Yeah, but they're dancing around something big. You can see it in the way they look at each other."

I followed his gaze, noticing the way Freddy would glance at Bonnie out of the corner of his eye, only to quickly look away when Bonnie caught him. Whatever had come between them, it wasn't just a petty argument.

Chica bounced over to us, beaming. "Look! They're smiling! Isn't this great?"

I forced a smile for her sake. "Yeah, it's a good start."

"Maybe we should keep the party going longer," she suggested, already grabbing a bowl of shredded cheese to refill the station.

Monty stepped in, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Don't overdo it, chickadee. Sometimes less is more."

Chica pouted but nodded, retreating back to the toppings table.

Freddy and Bonnie's conversation had grown more animated, with Bonnie teasing Freddy about his overly symmetrical pizza design. "You're making it look like it came out of a commercial, sugar. Loosen up, Fazbear!"

"And you're making yours look like it was assembled in the dark," Freddy shot back, though there was a hint of a smile on his face.

Bonnie smirked. "Maybe, but mine's got personality."

The playful banter eased some of the tension in the room, and for a moment, I allowed myself to hope that things were getting better.

Then Scarlett walked in with the twins in tow.

"Wow," Scarlett said, taking in the colorful setup. "This is amazing! Chica, you've outdone yourself."

The twins, Ryan and Reagan, raced over to the toppings table, their eyes wide with excitement. "Can we make our own pizzas?" Ryan asked, already grabbing a handful of pepperoni.

"Of course!" Chica said, practically glowing. "The more, the merrier!"

Scarlett made her way over to me and Monty, her eyes narrowing slightly as she looked between us. "You two seem awfully cozy," she remarked with a teasing smile.

My face heated up, and I quickly stepped away from Monty. "We're just, uh… supervising."

"Right," she said, clearly unconvinced but too amused to press the issue.

Monty leaned closer to me, his voice low enough that only I could hear. "You're adorable when you're flustered, princess."

I shot him a look, but before I could respond, Bonnie's voice cut through the room.

"Hey, Freddy, can I talk to you for a second?"

The room went quiet. Everyone, including the twins, froze as they turned to look at the two animatronics.

Freddy hesitated, his eyes flickering to me and then to Chica before he nodded. "Sure."

They stepped away from the group, moving to the hallway right outside of the kitchen. I exchanged a glance with Monty, who raised an eyebrow as if to say, This is it.

Chica fidgeted nervously, her feathers ruffling as she whispered, "Do you think they're going to fight?"

"I don't think so," I said, though I wasn't entirely convinced.

The argument between Freddy and Bonnie had spilled out into the hallway just outside the kitchen. Though their voices were hushed at first, their words grew louder, sharp enough to carry back to us.

"I told you I didn't want to talk about this here!" Freddy snapped, his usually calm tone cracking under frustration.

"Well, maybe you should've thought about that before you started bossing me around like I'm one of your little recruits!" Bonnie shot back, his ears pinned tightly against his head.

The rest of the kitchen fell silent, save for the faint sizzling of pizza in the oven. Chica looked distraught, wringing her hands as she glanced nervously toward the hallway. The twins had stopped their playful chatter, watching the scene unfold with wide eyes.

I tried to stay calm. I really did. But as their voices grew louder, my frustration boiled over.

"This was supposed to help them," I mumbled, my fists clenching at my sides. Monty glanced at me, his brow furrowed with concern.

"Elijah, don't—" he started, but it was too late.

I stormed out of the kitchen, my footsteps echoing against the tiled floor. Freddy and Bonnie didn't notice me until I was right in front of them, standing between them like a barrier.

"Enough!" I yelled, my voice trembling with emotion. Both animatronics froze, their arguments halting as they turned to look at me.

"Do you even realize what you're doing?" I said, my voice cracking. "This whole night was supposed to be about bringing you two back together! Chica and I worked so hard to make this fun for everyone, especially you guys, and all you're doing is tearing each other apart!"

They stared at me, their faces a mix of guilt and shock, but they didn't say a word. The silence was deafening, and the weight of their inaction crushed me.

"I just wanted to help…" I whispered, tears welling up in my eyes. I couldn't hold them back any longer. Turning on my heel, I ran—ran away from their stunned faces, from Monty's worried gaze, from everything.

My feet carried me back to Rockstar Row, to the one place that felt like a refuge. I slammed the door to Monty's green room shut behind me and collapsed onto the couch, burying my face in my hands as the sobs wracked my body.

Monty's POV:

I watched Elijah's retreating figure, my chest tightening with worry and anger. Scarlett, who had been quietly assembling Gregory's pizza at the counter, turned to me with a questioning look. She told us that she was making one for Gregory, who was very sick back at their apartment.

"What was that about?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

"I don't know," I admitted, my gaze flicking to Freddy and Bonnie. They were still standing in the hallway, their faces slack with shock. My fists clenched involuntarily.

"But I'm gonna find out," I said, my voice low and firm.

Before leaving, I marched up to the two animatronics, glaring at them both. "You two should be ashamed of yourselves," I growled, my sharp teeth glinting under the fluorescent lights. "Elijah and Chica put this whole thing together for you—because they care about you—and you couldn't even stop arguing for one night to see that."

Freddy opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off with a wave of my clawed hand. "Save it. Think about what you've done."

I didn't wait for a response. Turning on my heel, I left the kitchen and headed straight for Rockstar Row. My thoughts raced as I searched for Elijah, calling his name softly as I peeked into each green room. Finally, I found him in mine.

He was curled up on the couch, his shoulders shaking as quiet sobs escaped him. My mechanical heart twisted at the sight. I stepped inside, closing the door gently behind me.

"Elijah," I said softly, kneeling beside him.

He looked up, his face streaked with tears. "I'm sorry, Monty," he choked out. "I tried so hard, but it wasn't enough. I'm not enough."

"Hey, stop that," I said firmly, sitting down beside him and pulling him into my arms. "You are more than enough, princess. You hear me? You did everything you could. You care about your friends, and that's what matters."

He buried his face in my chest, his sobs muffled against me. I ran my claws gently through his hair, my other arm wrapped protectively around him.

"But it didn't work," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "Freddy and Bonnie are still upset, and now I've just made things worse."

"No, you didn't," I said, my tone soft but resolute. "What you did tonight—putting this whole thing together, trying to bring people closer—that was incredible. Not everyone would've done that. You've got a heart bigger than this whole damn Pizzaplex, Elijah, and that's one of the many reasons I adore you."

He sniffled, looking up at me with red-rimmed eyes. "You really mean that?"

I cupped his face in my claws, my gaze locking with his. "Every word. Don't ever think you're not good enough. You're everything to me."

His lip quivered, and he leaned into my touch. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Monty."

"You don't have to worry about that, princess," I said, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "I'm not going anywhere. Ever."

We stayed like that for a while, the only sounds in the room were his soft breathing and the hum of the neon lights. Slowly but surely, I felt the tension in his body ease, his sobs fading into quiet sniffles.

"You're amazing, you know that?" I whispered, tilting his chin up to look at me.

A small, shy smile broke through his sadness. "I think you might've mentioned that once or twice."

I chuckled, kissing the tip of his nose. "Good. Just making sure you don't forget it."

For now, I decided not to think about Freddy and Bonnie or the chaos in the kitchen. My only priority was Elijah, the person I'd do anything to protect.