The Miss and The Music: A Marionette X story

Secrets

•Janus's P.O.V.•

After setting me down on the stage, I watched as everyone flooded back into the room. Toy Chica began passing out sodas and treats from the kitchen, which made the kids especially happy. They all ran off to the game area, riding on the carousel and playing the old 8bit video games. BB and Mangle were with them too, and Katie and Toy Bonnie were nowhere to be seen. I saw that Toy Freddy was gone too, leaving Mars and I to ourselves onstage.

"Hey."

"Hm?" I looked over, watching Mars as he pulled something out from behind him. It was a box, decorated with pastel purple wrapping paper and a silver bow.

"Happy birthday."

"You remembered." I smiled as he handed me the gift. "And my favorite colors. How did you know?"

"I took a guess." He kissed my cheek, watching as I unraveled the bow. I took care with the paper as to not make a huge mess, lifting the lid off of the white box to reveal a necklace. It was on a long silver chain, a red gemstone shaped like a teardrop, set into a bezel with little bat wings. I giggled, pulling it out of the box and looking at it more closely.

"Oh my god, Mars, it's beautiful." I smiled. "Where on earth did you find something like this?"

"Well, see..." His face grew dark suddenly, and he looked down at his hands. They were clasped together tightly. "Janus...I'm not like the toys. In fact...I have more in common with the withered, than anything."

"What do you mean?"

"I..." He was trembling. I even watched as a tear streaked down his face. "I wasn't always a Marionette. You see, I...I used to be human too."

I held my hand over my mouth, my jaw hanging wide open. I leaned forward, wiping away his tears and wrapping my arms around him. He held me tightly, his face buried in my neck. I heard him sniff before releasing me.

"I was eight, just a year older than Chica. I don't even know how long ago this was, but...I was at a pizzeria, either the old one or this one, I don't remember. I was looking for my mom and dad in the crowd, when someone came and asked if I was lost. I said yes, so they said they were bringing me to the managers office. I was...they brought me into a back room and..." He held a hand up to his throat, tracing a pale white line I hadn't noticed before. "That necklace was mine, and it's all I had when I died. Well, woke up, actually. I was already in the body of the Marionette, and I saw...myself. I grabbed it and hid it. They found my body four days later."

"The first time I changed, I didn't know what to think. I just woke up in the box feeling like I was too big, so I got up and looked. I was an adult, or, teenager. I'm not really sure. I went in the bathroom and checked out my face. I wasn't the same, but, I still had my necklace. It's the only thing I have left, and I want you to have it."

"Mars, I can't-"

"Please." He kissed me suddenly, pulling me against him. "I know it's safe with you, and I know that even if you lose me, you'll always have that."

"I'm not losing you." I held onto him as he took the necklace from my grasp. He reached behind me, hooking it around my neck. I sighed, kissing his cheek as he let go.

"Janus?"

I turned to see Chica standing on the side of the stage rather awkwardly. She smiled at me, holding her hands behind her back.

"Can I talk to you?"

"Of course." I smiled, giving Mars one last kiss before walking to Chica. She took my hand and dragged me into the hall, all the way to the bathrooms. "What do you need to talk about?"

"Oh, um." She paused as the door closed. "Nothing, actually. I'm just...scared to use the bathroom by myself. Mangle scares me and I couldn't find Toy Chica or Katie."

"Why didn't you say so sweetie?"

"Because Mars was there."

"Oh." I smiled. "I understand."

"Thank you." She smiled, running off to the stalls while I waited by the door. She came out a few moments later, washing her hands and grabbing paper towels before reaching for my hand again.

We walked back out into the party room just as the bell rang for the six o'clock shift. Foxy ran by, picking Chica up and throwing her over his shoulder and him and the rest of the withered walked back to the maintenance room. A sudden thought occurred to me though and I snagged the tablet.

"Wait!" I halted the kids, checking the room. Empty. "Okay nevermind!"

"They're in kids cove." Mangle laughed. "I already slammed the door on them once."

"Katie!" I yelled, kicking open the door. I heard a small squeal as she tugged her shirt down, Toy Bonnie practically leaping away from her. I laughed, watching as they both blushed a bright cherry red. "It's time to leave."

"I KNOW THAT GET OUT!"

I slammed the door closed, picking up my backpack from the floor while I chuckled. Mars grabbed my hand, pulling me against his chest. He smiled at me, tucking my hair behind my ear.

"Be back tomorrow night, okay beautiful?"

"Sure. I mean, might as well." I shrugged. "I get overtime."

"Oh, so you don't want to see me?" He mocked offense, rolling his eyes. "Such a loving girlfriend you are."

"Only because you're such a caring boyfriend."

He kissed me, cupping my cheeks with his hands. I leaned into it, smiling against his lips. Suddenly I felt hands on my shoulders, and I was being dragged away by an irritated Katie. I blew Mars a kiss as we walked out the door, and the second we were outside she started screaming curses at me.

"I'd never do that to you and Mars how could you?!" She pouted.

"Katie. Relax." I laughed, putting an arm around the girls shoulders. "You'll have plenty more chances to make out with your precious Bon Bon later."

"I hate you."

"I love you too babe, love you too."