Chapter 3 – Old Habits, New Tricks

A/N – Thanks again for yet more lovely reviews and such! Sorry about the wait, I've been working on a couple of requests so this one took a little longer to get out. Regardless, enjoy it and let me know what you think c:

...

Bonnie heaved a great sigh, shoulders rising and falling as his chest imitated the movement. It was really a token gesture, after all he didn't have lungs. The mascots had all done something very dangerous as the years ticked by – they had learned. Simple human motions and interactions became practiced motifs for the band, trying them out backstage and paying close attention when on the job, trying to gain an understanding of what they meant. They had taught themselves how to hug, high five, fist bump and more, not realising that they were slowly closing the gap between themselves and the humans.
When would the line become so blurry that it didn't demand focus? Bonnie believed he was past that point. The very fact that he could believe, gave him hope. Hope for himself, for his band-mates, and of course – for Mike.

He felt a rush of electricity as his thoughts turned to the guard. He'd actually come back after so much time apart, and better still he was coming back in just a few short hours! He'd have to prepare everything for his arrival, starting with a quick visit to Pirate's Cove.

Stomping towards the solo stage, Bonnie heard the pitter patter of Foxy's lightweight feet skittering about the hard wood floor. Gingerly pushing past the garish curtain, the rabbit couldn't help but laugh to himself as he found the captain engaged in a pantomime sword fight with one of the empty suits from backstage, edging closer and closer to slash fervently, his blade never actually touching the empty outfit.

"Uh, Foxy? You got a sec?"

The fox actually yelped, sword clattering to the ground and a sheepish grin crossing his face.

"Bonnie! Ye cannae be sneakin' up on me like that! Scared the circuits out of me..."

The rabbit rubbed the back of his neck instinctively, human expression merely second nature to him.

"Sorry buddy, you looked like you were having fun. That mean old mascot say something to you?"

"Aye! He dared insult me hook, the swine. He be lucky I don't keelhaul him, or lock him away in the brig! Anyway, you didn't come down here to listen to me tales...or did ye?"

Bonnie chuckled, waving a paw dismissively.. "You know I always have time for your tales, you old dog. No, I actually have something I'd like to talk to you about. I visited the new guard last night..."

"Harhar, ye got him didn't ye! You always were the brains of the operation. Lemme guess, ye made mincemeat out of him?"

"Uh, no not quite. I actually made a friend out of him."

Foxy's eyes narrowed, or at least the one that still worked did. His lazy eye made an attempt to look focused before giving up and becoming dull once more.

"I'm not sure me audio receptors be working right. Ye made a...friend out of him?"

"Well, more like rediscovered a friend. It's not just me going crazy, you know him too! Remember that kid who always requested I take centre stage against you? The one who you helped me pick a gift for on his birthday."

"Mmm...Mickey? Marty? I be recallin' something. Ah! I told ye to give him yer little plush doll right?"
"Mikey", the rabbit corrected. "His name is Mikey, or Mike now that he's all grown up. That was the one! You know, I never thanked you for that. Kid loved that silly doll."

"Aah, think nothing of it. Kid adored you, and you seemed pretty fond o' him. So that be the new night watch? No wonder ye didn't have it in ye to do the usual."

Bonnie briefly recalled the kiss Mike had bestowed on him the night before. Was he still just as loved? Perhaps it was something more...

"I could never hurt Mike, I just couldn't. Look, I came here to ask you a huge favour and I need you to hear me out. Could we maybe, not kill this one? I like him; he likes me! He's as much a part of this pizzeria as any of us."

Foxy scratched his chin in thought, considering the proposal. All they had done for years was murder...for what? For some meaningless vengeance on a poor soul who didn't deserve it? Because Freddy told them to? He growled at the mere thought of it, why should they continue to listen to that cruel old bear?

"Alright Bon. Alright. We'll leave this lad be, aye? Don't worry about ol' Fazbeard neither, I'll have words with him and lass Chica, make 'em see sense. It's about time we staged a mutiny!"

Bonnie pulled the Captain into an embrace, circuitry sparking with glee.
"I knew I could count on you Foxy. Thank you, really, I appreciate this."

"Tis nothing lad, now go see yer boy before I change me mind!"

Checking his internal clock, the rabbit noted it was 11:50pm; Mike would be starting his shift soon. He smiled at the captain one last time before ducking out from behind the curtain, making a beeline for the guard's office. Everything was going according to plan.

…

The key turned in the lock, sealing the doors of the 'piece o' shit' Toyota. There was almost hardly any point securing the thing really, it would be a blessing if someone were to steal it. Regardless Mike needed a way to get to work, and on $120 a week this was as luxurious as it was going to get.

Stepping inside the cramped security office he flipped the light switch, a dull buzz accompanying the sickly glow from the ceiling. Tonight felt different, his heart was calm in his chest as he took the time to neatly fold his jacket over the desk. Being reunited with his childhood friend was a most welcome turn of events and having the mascots cease their murderous ways was definitely a bonus. Still, he wondered what the night would hold. Without having to constantly check the cameras and seal the doors time would pass slowly, and he hadn't even brought something to read.

The gentle thump of movement nearby triggered panic within the guard, instinctively reaching for the door control before he heard Bonnie's voice echo down the hall.

"Mike relax, it's only me. No more murderbots remember? From kill to chill." Bonnie snapped his fingers and pointed at the guard as he spoke, Mike cringing as he had flashbacks of 80's pop culture.

"Gah, my bad. Place still gives me the jitters. You better have something fun planned, I don't much fancy sitting around for the next 6 hours."

"Oh I've got you covered buddy, follow me!" Bonnie motioned after him as he retreated down the hall, Mike following obediently.

They arrived at the pizzeria's famed arcade, rows of machines sleeping in the dark.

"Allow me to present to you...gaming Valhalla!" Bonnie crowed, flipping the power switch on the wall.

An onomatopoeic chorus rang out as the various games pinged, blooped, and beeped into life, colourful lights showering the entire room in a beautiful spectrum.

Mike had to admit, it was most impressive. Every game you could think of, and some that even he couldn't name lay before him, ready to provide entertainment.

"Oh man this is too cool! I remember all of this, I can't believe it's still here! You've got Galaga, Pac-man, Street Fighter..."

Bonnie chuckled as the man rattled off the list, the thrilled glint in his eyes nothing short of endearing. After much debate and a few games of rock, paper, scissors – best two out of three? Best four out of five? Oh come on! - they settled on a classic shoot 'em up game the two could play.

Fingers mashed triggers and curses were thrown as heads exploded on screen, the robotic voice chanting praise as they blazed through the levels. Time passed and they moved to a new game, Mike fumbling through his wallet for quarters, clumsy fingers spilling the coins across the floor.

Bending down to pick them up, he bumped heads with Bonnie who had dropped to his knees to aid him. A paused silence fell across them as their gazes met and time seemed to freeze.

Acting on sheer impulse Bonnie's paw cupped the back of Mike's head, gently closing the gap between their faces, eyes sliding shut. Their lips moved against each others, the whole thing so strange and yet so...right. Mike wrapped his arms around the rabbit, noting how peculiarly warm he was while Bonnie shivered at his touch.

He wasn't sure what made him do it. Maybe a glitch in his programming? Somehow he doubted it, breaking away from the kiss with his head in a spin.

"Um...uh, so yeah. That was..."

"...nice. It was nice." finished Mike, panting softly.

The two remained motionless for a moment, the night watch's face falling as he felt the floor begin to vibrate.

"The heck is that?" Mike grumbled, peering into the darkness beyond the arcade.

The vibrations grew more powerful, heavy thumping accompanying them as a hulking figure strode forth, shadows giving way to bared teeth and red pinprick eyes that bored into his soul.

Bonnie turned his head a second too late, a gigantic paw smashing his skull with a sickening crunch that threw him across the ground.

Mike scrambled to his feet in terror, Bonnie shakily rising to stand next to him, head roaring in pain.

The leader of the band himself, Freddy Fazbear, stood tall above the pair with clenched fists and gritted teeth.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?" bellowed the beast, loud enough to quake the building foundations.

"F-freddy! Foxy was supposed to talk to you about it, you see-"

"Ah yes, my beloved mutt. As a matter of fact he did swing by earlier, something about an old friend turned night watch?"

Frantically pointing towards Mike, the rabbit spoke in fear. "Yeah! T-that's Mike, this guy right here. It's ok Freddy, you have to see, the senseless killing can stop, we can-"
"IT'S NOT OK, BONNIE. You know well what we do with those caught after hours. Lucky for you, I was kind enough to bring a suit along with me. Let's get this over with, hmm?"

Freddy raised his right arm, revealing the battered and barely conscious body of the old sea Captain.

"Lads...I'm sorry. I couldn't get him to see sense."

"That's because the only sense to be seen is that human, dead. Would you care to do the honors Bonnie, or shall I?"
"Ye aren't the bear I used to know, Fazbeard. Ye used to be kind-hearted, now all ye know is cruelty!"
Freddy growled ferociously, slamming the fox into wall. A pained shriek rang out, followed by haunting silence as oil trickled from Foxy's lifeless form.

"Foxy, no!" Bonnie wailed, Mike turning a ghostly shade of white beside him.

"Now, I'll ask again. Bonnie, would you care to do the honors?" Freddy smiled something sadistic, black liquid running down his arm as he offered the captains frame.

"Never! I'd sooner go offline."
The bear shrugged, "Have it your way", before charging towards the pair in a fit of rage.

Ducking and rolling out of the way, Mike reached behind the arcade cabinet, wrenching the industrial power cord from its socket and ramming it into the lead singer's back.

Freddy writhed and screamed as torrents of electricity coursed through him, overpowering his circuity and forcing an emergency shutdown, body going limp and falling to the ground with a resonant 'thump'.

Mike darted across to Bonnie, ensuring his safety before the pair made their way over to the poor, mangled fox.

"Nngh...that was quick thinking lad. I could use someone like you as a member o' me crew, hehe!" The captain remained ever jubilant despite the oil seeping from his joints, clearly overcome with pain.

"Take it easy there Foxy, you've taken a hell of a beating. We can get you backstage and fix you up, don't worry" Bonnie reassured the mascot, heaving him into his arms and making his way to the maintenance room.

"This? It'll take more than a good brawl to keep this old fox down...argh...". The captain languished in his grip, eyes slowly losing their yellow tinge and sliding shut.
"He'll be fine, he's simply gone into a sort of forced stasis. Kind of like when a human falls unconscious." Bonnie reassured the guard. "As for Freddy...He'll be out for a little while. I'll see what I can do about him."

Mike nodded, jumping slightly as the alarm on his phone chimed, signalling the end of his shift.

"6am already...what a night."
"Yeah I'll say. Hey at least you weren't bored!" joked the rabbit, laying Foxy down on the repair station.
"That's for sure! Hey listen, about what happened earlier at the arcade machine, between us. I...I liked it."
Bonnie turned to face the human, a bashful smile gracing his features. "Mmm, me too. Maybe we should do it again sometime.

Mike felt a scarlet blush cover his face as he spoke, "Maybe we should. Um, I should probably go. I'll be back tomorrow night though!".

"Missing you already" crooned the mascot. "Oh and don't worry too much about Freddy. If I can't fix whatever's wrong with him, I'll have to deactivate him. He won't be a problem anymore."

Mike threw a thumbs up before departing the room and heading for the exit, the evening's events turning over in his mind.

He'd beaten his high score, kissed a bunny and fought a bear all in the same night.

"Damn." he muttered under his breath.

No one would ever believe him.