Anti-Hero

• Chapter 8 •

Monty hesitantly played the tune Chica had asked him to.

He had come to her for bass lessons, and she was happy to help despite the fact that she played the guitar.

Chica nodded slowly, thinking carefully about how to word her critique. She was leaning comfortably on the couch of her room while Monty was sitting with his legs crossed on the ground.

"You're doing good! It's just about...bringing it all together. It sounds kind of choppy." She stated. Monty sighed and set the bass down to think.

"I don't think it's really an issue of skill... it seems more like your confidence." She pat his back. Monty nodded slowly, changing the subject.

"They want me to sing, though. Can you help?"

Chica blinked in surprise before laughing nervously.

"I used to be Freddy's backup vocals, but... I haven't done that in ages..." She brushed off.

"And Roxanne can't sing at all, so if you want help with singing, you're gonna' have to ask Freddy."

Monty cringed, dreading having to ask the bear for that kind of help.

"...and dancing -""

Chica thought for a moment. "Well... that I'm not sure about... Bonnie was the best dancer of all of us... I'd say you talk to Freddy about that, too." When Chica noticed Monty shift uncomfortably, she just sighed.

"Monty, Freddy is kind of your boss now, y'know. It's his job to help you, and I know he wouldn't deny you. You need to start getting along with him." She reminded. Monty sighed, knowing full well she was right.

"Try approaching him." She pat his back.

"Where is he?" Monty asked. She pointed towards her right.

"He's in his greenroom right now." Monty nodded and jogged out. He really didn't want to do this, but Chica suggested it, and he didn't want to upset her. When he approached Freddy's room, he was hesitant to knock.

When he did, however, he heard a low voice tell him to come in. He pressed the button and entered cautiously, glancing around at the room. He caught sight of Freddy sitting on the ground and leaning on the wall towards the back of his room.

His hat, jacket, bracelets, and shoulder pads were carelessly thrown around the room, and the lights were dimmed very low. He also noticed his vanity was in shambles, as was the coffee table.

"Yes, Monty? What do you need?" He muttered, wiping his eyes to look at the gator more clearly.

"I...uh...Chica has been helping me with the bass, but I was needing some help in singin' and dancin', if you don't mind?"

The bear cleared his throat and sat up more clearly. He nodded and gestured to the coffee table.

"Get me the folder on there. It has music sheets." His voice was lower and more hoarse than usual. Monty obliged and jogged to the table to get the manilla folder and hand it to the bear.

Freddy slid the papers out to look through them before handing him one sheet named: "Happy Birthday."

"It is best to start out small... that is the easiest song you can learn." He stated. Monty nodded and sat by Freddy so he could explain the different notes.

As he was, he noticed Freddy was tearing up a lot and continuously had to keep wiping his eyes.

"Are you alright, Fred-?" He asked. The bear sniffled and rubbed his nose with the back of his arm.

"Y-yes..." He muttered. Monty was unconvinced. He supposed it was about Bonnie. But how would he even go about fixing that? Especially after what he did?

Monty thought for a moment before setting the papers down, much to Freddy's confusion.

"Uh, y'know, we don't need to practice music right now." Monty suggested.

"But... did you not need help?" The bear sniffled. Monty sighed.

"Yeah, but... it could wait a bit. It looks like you ain't really in the mood to do it."

Freddy glanced down shamefully.

"I-I'm sorry, Monty." He muttered. He quickly brushed the bear off.

"Don't be! It's all good." He stood up.

"I'll... see ya' tomorrow." He stated. Freddy nodded but did not make eye contact. As Monty closed the door, he felt his heart sink.

He really messed things up... Freddy is not in the right head space to do anything, Chica is being nice, but... he could sense she's not very happy with him either. And Roxanne was still not talking to him.

He then remembered one animatronic that would never turn him down.

~~

"Sooo... you need lessons in singing and dancing, but Freddy can't do it?" Sun questioned. Monty nodded slowly.

"Hm... y'know, maybe it's because you guys don't know each other enough." They suggested. When Monty glanced at them in confusion, they elaborated.

"Here's an idea: Freddy loves dancing! He's a riot on the Arcade Dance Floor!" They chuckled. Monty snickered as well. Imagining the calm and intimidating leader on the dance floor was a funny thought. Though, his mood was dampened as Sun continued.

"He and Bonnie loved going there to dance... if he misses Bonnie right now, taking him there might help him! It brings back good memories." They insisted.

"And," Sun knelt down to his sitting form.

"You can use it as a dancing lesson! He can teach you to dance while also having fun again." They said. Monty thought about it. It was a good idea, but there was still that awkwardness between he and Freddy.

"But...things are awkward with us right now -" Monty reasoned. Sun scowled and smacked his shoulder.

"Monty, how do you think you break out of that? That tension doesn't just go away. You have to break it." They lectured.

"Ok, ok!"

~~

"Oh, have you come for another lesson...?" Freddy stood up straighter as the gator opened the door.

"Sort of... but I need you to come with me." He gestured towards him.