A New Feeling

☆ Chapter 10 ☆

By the time closing came around, Freddy felt he was on the verge of combustion. He was trying his best to function normally throughout the day with Bonnet, but his fear for his partner kept growing.

He also felt...an odd feeling for his partner. Of course, he already loved Bonnie. They were best friends. But Freddy's feelings have always been a bit more... complicated. This was the longest Freddy had been apart from him, and the bear could not get him out of his head. Had he always been so dependent on Bonnie?

It was pathetic, the bear realized that. Yet his mind still kept returning to Bonnie.

He was now hiding in the Breaker Room. Bonnet was nice enough and keeping him company. She wasn't his partner, but she was still pretty fun to talk to. Both of them were interrupted from their conversation when they heard the sound of people approaching the door.

"They must be back with him!" Bonnet whispered. Both of them quickly shut off as the door opened. This time, only one person came in, holding Bonnie in both hands.

They set him down and carefully removed Bonnet to replace with Bonnie. Once he was connected, they silently left with the pink puppet.

When the door had finally closed, Freddy abruptly woke up and turned to the bunny, his eyes tearing up again.

"B-bon?? You're ok?!" He cried in disbelief. Bonnie slowly opened his eyes and turned to him in surprise.

"Y-yeah, they were just checking me over-" Bonnie had barely finished his sentence before he was trapped in a bone-crushing one-handed hug by Freddy. The bear weapt into the bunny's small shoulder.

"I was so scared-!" He sobbed "I thought you were gone for good!"

The bunny felt himself growing emotional at the sight. Freddy...cared that much about him-? Was he that worried? The bunny simply nuzzle his cheek to return the affection.

"Yes, I'm back, you big dork!' He laughed. Freddy let out a watery laugh as well.

"Y-you nearly got scrapped just so they wouldn't hurt me?!" Freddy asked, now breaking away from the embrace. The bunny smiled.

"Of course, Fred! I'd do it again, too!" He giggled.

"Well, good thing they brought you back now, I was about to go ask mantainence myself!" Freddy huffed.

~~

Foxy peeked through the curtains, his tail bouncing excitedly.

"Well?! How's it looking out there??" Bonnie whispered.

"No guests have entered yet... but the party looks like it'll be big!" He said. The others bounced excitedly.

"Freddy, Freddy! Your bells are getting all messed up!" Bonnie giggled, fretting over straightening them again.

"Sorry, I'm just so excited!" Freddy exclaimed.

"All of these guests coming to see me steal the show!" Foxy grinned proudly. Freddy rolled his eyes.

"Will you shut up about that? They're here to see all of us!" The bear groaned.

"Yes, but they're looking forward to me more so than you!" Foxy snapped back. Their bickering continued before the dancer of the group chuckled and separated them.

"Boys, please! Baby is on stage first anyway!" She said. Freddy turned to the tallest animatronic. Baby was in front of a mirror, undusting her costume and straightening up.

"Hey, Baby?!" Bonnie called. When the animatronic turned to him, he gave an encouraging smile.

"Good luck up there!" He said. Baby gave him a small smile in return before checking the time and picking up her microphone. Once she was prepared, she left through the small crowd and made it center stage before guests could come in. The instructions were that she had to be on stage twenty minutes before the party started.

The others chatted again behind stage as the animatronic outside waited silently. To everyone's surprise, they heard quiet footsteps enter the room earlier than expected.

Every animatronic was caught off guard, and the others peeked out in confusion.

A young girl with long strawberry-blonde hair had jogged in, slowing her skipping hesitantly at the sight of Baby on the stage.

Circus Baby swiftly disposed a scoop of ice cream for the girl, according to her programming. She outstretched her claw to hand it to the girl. The hesitant girl now loosened up and approached the ice cream swiftly. When she reached out, however, Baby shut off unexpectedly, dropping the ice cream.

Before anyone could react, Baby came alive again, her face plates ripping open and her claw extending forward to trap the girl's small torso. The girl only had time to scream in terror before her cry was cut off as she was forced forward into Baby's chest cavity.

The other animatronivs stared frozen in horror at the bloody mess.