Mangled Arts

Chapter 2

You arrive at work the next morning with Kent in toe.

You told him meet you at the start of your shift as you had something to tell him. He was less than pleased. "Jesus Crist Y/n do you wake up everyday this early?" You laughed at his misfortune.  "It's seven in the morning Kent?" He rubbed his eyes  as he continued to follow you to his newest display. "So what was it you wanted to show me?" He asked as you arrive in front of 'his' newest creation.

"I would like to introduce you to my new friend!" You say with a smile. He gives you an odd look until he noticed movement from the statue he supposedly made. He stepped back as it's two heads turn to greet him. "This is Mangle!" You say gesturing to the strange bot Kent is lost for words, so you take the time to explain their situation and ask your friend for a favor. 

His face contorted to that of annoyance and frustration to empathy and understanding as you explained the situation. "So I hate to do this Kent but I need you to claim Mangle as your work. It's the only way to protect them from whatever is trying to hurt them." You plead with him and he looked Mangle over cautiously before letting out a sigh. As Mangle gives him puppy dog eyes. 

"Dammit Y/n! What have you gotten me roped into!" He gives you a glare for just a moment before giving you and Mangle a soft smile.  "I'll do it!" You give Kent a hug as thanks. "You owe me big for this!" He says as he returned the hug. "I figured  as much!" You say breaking the hug. Kent then sits on a bench across from Mangle's display looking over them thoroughly. "I will admit It I like your look. In fact I stayed up thinking about it most of last night." He continued to look Mangle over his eyes picking up every detail. "Though I fear people will eventually notice that Mangle doesn't fit my style." He sits his head on his hand thinking. 

"Couldn't you adjust them to fit?" You ask him earning you a glare. "No Who ever made them look like this did it with purpose and I'm not one for destroying other people's work." You sigh you forgot how principled Kent was when it came to art. "I agree with him. We are the combined work of dozens of children over the years. We don't want anyone to ruin that!" Mangle says their voices in unison. This gets Kent to smile.

"So that's what you are! An over a decades worth of work created by dozens of young minds!" He pats Mangle on their fox shaped head in approval. Mangle momentarily flinches at his touch their ears going flat. Kent and you both picked up on this and you give each other a worried look. He stroked their head gently and they relaxed and even pressed into his touch. 

The poor thing you thought as you continued to watch.

Suddenly they freezed up in a pose!

Both you and Kent were momentarily confused until you heard the familiar clacking of heels. You glanced over and to your annoyance you were right. 

The Swan's walk was nothing new to you as she always walked with purpose. She approached the display not even acknowledging you or Kent. She was finely dressed as usual in a knee length black and white dress. With a black fur trim. She pulled a recorder from her purse as she looked Mangle over. Her piercing grey eyes memorized each detail as they peeked under her fancy hat. The woman was always dressed as if she was constantly at a fancy dress party but that's something you've come to expect from artist types. 

She clicked the recorder. 

You couldn't help but notice how uncomfortable Kent seemed as she looked over Mangle. 

"Nothing is an interesting piece from Kent River. As it's completely unique when you compare it to his other works!." She inspected it closely as she walked around it multiple times.  "It's use of robotic parts in strange yet familiar places invokes a sense of pain. The missing parts seem to represent loss of one's self." She clicked the recorder off as she turned to face Kent.