Chapter Text
Rising sunlight gradually cast itself over the frost-covered windows of the shed, announcing the arrival of Christmas morning. The interior slowly filled with this warming light, it taking its time in melting the frost. Fresh snow coated the earth, remnant of the snowfall from the previous night. Yet, thanks to the heater within, the cold went unnoticed. Inside, only said heater's hum broke the silence. Light eventually dipped low enough to reveal the two rabbit animatronics "slumbering" among one corner. Faye had once again traded her bed for a spot beside her counterpart. He'd Slept propped up against the wall, letting her rest her head on his lap. His own hung, "chin" barely touching his "collar", his intact ear casting a shadow over his face.
Although Springtrap was the first the light uncovered, he was not the first to Wake.
Thanks to her internal clock, Faye's mechanical body returned to life before he did. The circular light panels on her chest lit up a bright blue, her body shifting moments after. Light-blue eyes opened, blinked. They focused on the heating unit, the lawn mower and gardening tools currently not being used, then to the ruined rabbit on whom she'd Slept. His left hand was still settled on her head, having paused mid-stroke over her strip of faux hair. As she rose, it slipped down the back of her head, slowing its descent on her drooping ears. Before it could drop back to its place at his side, she caught it with her right arm, her own hand moving to take hold of his wrist. From this perspective, she was reminded of just how large he was compared to her. His hand easily dwarfed her own. Thick fingers were still for now, but she vividly remembered how firm and demanding they had held onto her, the night before. Metal fingertips had acted as if bearing claws, grip possessive. Teeth were locked shut around wherever they could bite. She remembered having caught sight of sparks from within his mouth.
It had felt amazing~
Silently, she let her fingers interlock with his, finding she could barely wrap her digits around his hand. A part of her wondered why he had to be so large. A part of her already knew the answer. At one time, he'd used to be a character costume for an adult man--and William had been a tall specimen. Curious eyes wandered. Despite further cleaning and some minor repairs, Springtrap still wasn't his original gold, artificial "fur" still clinging to its brownish shades. Right ear was still broken, the endoskeleton of his lower legs and feet still exposed. He'd earlier refused any restorations beyond basic function, stating that he didn't want her wasting her efforts. If she really wanted to, he insisted on a new body, altogether. Something more lifelike, emotive. Anything to at least grant him some sense of normalcy. Perhaps in time, that would be a project he could work on. Maybe...one for Faye, too?
Her mechanical form jumped at the sudden knocking on the door. Letting go of her hold on his limb, the hare stood, re-checking to assure her proper appearance before proceeding to answer. The door opened, Rune dressed warmly just outside. "Mornin'," she greeted, flakes of snow clinging to her long hair. "Uh...morning. What are you doing out here, so early?" Faye spoke, puzzled. The woman briefly giggled, breath a mere fog from her lips. "Why else? It's Christmas! Family holiday, and what-not. That includes everyone--even your darlin' bun, in there. I just swung by to fetch ya, is all." Both of Faye's ears twitched. "O-oh! Y-you wanted to include Spring? What about Mitch?"
"Ah, stepped on some toes to get his permission. Like it or not, that ol' rabbit's a part of your family, now. An' YOU'RE part o' ours. Anywho, the others aren't up, yet. Now grab your bunny, an' let's get back inside. Not right to force you both to spend the day in the shed."
Oh. Well, if...if she was sure. The hare turned without question to shut off the heater, then attempted to wake her companion. With enough encouragement, white eyes blinked open, locking themselves on Faye. "Rune's outside. Says we're allowed in the house, today," she informed him. "Are we, now? Is she convinced her significant other won't attempt to shove me back out the door?" the larger rabbit grunted as he regained control of his body. "She claimed she talked him into it. Besides, if he does, I'm coming back out with you," Faye stated with a short nuzzle of noses. "She's outside, right now?" he asked further, motioning beyond the door. At her nod, he paused in thought, then gently caught her hand. "I need to speak with her a moment, if you'll permit?" Again, Faye nodded, slowly making her way out while he got to his feet. Faye passed her sister-in-law, the woman not leaving her spot. Taking the hint, she hurried for the house, not wanting to expose her mechanical body to the elements for too much longer. Still, as she walked, she spared a glance back, curious to see what it was the two were up to. She couldn't hear what was being said as the shed door swung open, Springtrap appearing in the doorway as Rune stepped closer. She spoke, he replied. The red-head grabbed something from her coat pocket, turning it over to the rabbit. He took it in a large hand, looking it over. Whatever it was. Satisfied with it, he stashed it away within his chest cavity. Eyes mimicking furrowed brows, Faye gripped and wrapped her large ears around herself, mainly to deflect any falling snow, and continued her trek to the house.
The back door was still unlocked, letting her enter. Only a few lights illuminated the living room, the dining room. Exterior light hadn't yet crawled in through the windows. Nobody else had gotten up, certain to still be tucked away in bed. By the back door, Faye peered out into the yard. Side by side, Rune and Springtrap walked casually, the woman's arms crossed and hands tucked to warm them. It was actually rather...strange how casual they seemed to be. Almost as if there WASN'T a giant animatronic walking up the barely-visible path. Still, acknowledging that they were following, Faye left the door cracked open, proceeding in to the living room. The large decorated tree in the corner was alive with lights, shining on the presents underneath it. The clock on the mantle displayed a time of nearly 7 am. Light panels glowing, Faye sat on the couch. Soon, her niece would be bolting down the stairs in excitement. Not something she wanted to miss. Voices resumed conversation as their owners entered the house. Tone was kept low, as if to keep Faye from listening in.
The hare caught a snippet from Rune, asking him if he needed paper towels or a dry rag. Spring softly turned down the offer with thanks, complimenting Faye's attempts to keep him clean. Her body slightly sunk in place. Well, she DID promise to take care of him! There were soft murmurs from the woman, and shortly after, the formerly-golden bunny entered the living room. A brief survey let him find her waiting for him on the sofa. Balled up in place, legs pulled and held close by her arms, body leaning against the opposite arm rest. She looked so small. So...meek. Just as he liked it~ White eyes turned a faint purple, and she hid her face behind her knees with a telltale giggle. He was on her in a similar manner of predator on prey, approach kept slow. Unable to kiss, he had to make due with love-bites. She happily accepted, either way.
From the kitchen, they heard pans being prepped for cooking. Heh, ironic. How quickly the woman in the other room had been forgotten. Well, it didn't matter. It's not as if they could eat, anyway. But the other inhabitants could, and the sounds didn't fail to wake the husband, at least. Mitch stepped out of the bedroom, remembering to pull on a shirt to pair with his pants. A yawn fled him as he craned his neck, easing the stiffness. His stride toward the kitchen stopped, eyes focused on the rabbit currently holding his sister in his lap. She could not gauge his expression, since her back was to him, but her counterpart easily could. In the dim lighting, the larger rabbit's eyes glowed. White eyes caught sight of the silent man. There was no hostility. Rather than with words, Springtrap acknowledged him with a curt nod. No threatening glare was involved. In response, the man's green eyes dropped to the mint-colored female. Judging by how accepting of him she was, he wasn't posing a threat to anyone under this roof. Not now, anyway. His wife had already made herself clear, and he wasn't about to argue with her. So, instead of being hostile, Mitch chose to let out a breath, and return a nod. The family had to remember that they had a child in the house, though. Once ideal prey for the previously-murderous animatronic rabbit. Yet, not only was Faye with him, but they also had the puppet at Reese's side. It was yet to be seen, though: could he handle being in a kid's presence?
Supposedly, he had. But that was just before the burning of the Afton household.
The elder sibling left the two in the living room, choosing to converse with his wife instead of riling things up into an unnecessary argument. With the kitchen active, sounds of preparing food breaking the silence, the pair on the sofa seemingly appeared to "doze" off. Far too early for this mess, anyway! But their moment of peace was interrupted by the hurried steps of a child running from her room, upstairs. "Mum! Dad! It's Christmas!" she called, making way down the stairs with a present almost too big for her to carry. She hadn't changed out of her pale-yellow Winter sleepwear, hair somewhat tended to and neatened up. Stopping near the tree, she plopped the present down, pausing in the act upon spotting the animatronics there. "Hi, Auntie. Hi, Spring." Her voice momentarily startled her aunt, the mint-colored bunny letting illuminated eyes focus on the girl. "Heya, Reese-piece. Sorry. I guess we nodded off," Faye 'smiled'. Reese tilted her head, "Nodded off? But I thought animatronics didn't need to sleep?" She watched the hare set her head on the arm rest. "Well, I lied," Faye stated, indeed feeling weariness despite having a mechanical body. "Where's the puppet?" she then asked. As if on cue, the present Reese had brought down opened, the character in question peering out with a Santa hat on his head. "Oh. There he is," Faye lightly laughed, returning the wave Marionette gave her, albeit lazily.
"Is everyone else up, yet? It's about time to open presents," the child spoke. "I think you're eating breakfast, first," her aunt corrected, further sounds from the kitchen confirming this. "Tearing into presents like savages doesn't require food," Reese stated matter-of-factly, arms crossed. "Do we REALLY want to test your mom's patience?" returned the hare. A wide-eyed expression of thought claimed the child's face. "...Actually, I think it's best I eat, first," she "decided", taking a few steps toward the kitchen. She stopped, though, focus on Springtrap. He hadn't woken from his dozing, yet. With a hint of mischief in her expression, Reese climbed onto the sofa, minding her aunt's presence. A warm hand was pressed against his nose. Seconds later, the former SpringBonnie animatronic let robotic eyes--turning blue--open to rest on the little girl. "Aw, your nose didn't squeak," frowned a disappointed Reese, eyes narrowing behind her glasses. "A feature exclusive to the Freddy lineup, I'm afraid," Spring responded, his intact ear flickering. "Lucky him. It's Christmas, though. Did you know?" the girl continued, withdrawing her hand. "You only just announced it, did you not?" he questioned, tone slightly sarcastic. "Oh. You heard me," Reese realized, sheepishly. "Um...Mum's making breakfast, so...I'll go eat, and then we open gifts. Okay?"
"If that's your plan."
"...Did you get me something?"
He allowed a low chuckle. "I suppose we'll find out, won't we?"
Well, that sounded ominous. Reese didn't say more as she proceeded to see herself to the kitchen. Had her father heard those words, he'd without a doubt be on edge. There was no threat. All just a facade. Had it been intended, it would have been addressed by the hare in his lap--physically or otherwise. It was as he'd designed and programmed her. Besides that, Springtrap couldn't find it in him to prey upon Reese. Something about that little girl reminded him of his own, long ago. Maybe it had something to do with her lack of fear in him? Maybe it was due to her curiosity about him? Whatever the reason, he never did hear an inner voice commanding him to deal her harm. Given current circumstances, this was a blessing. The family eventually finished their meals in the next room, rejoining the animatronics in the living room. To avoid setting off her brother, Faye re-positioned herself to sit beside Springtrap. It proved enough. Rune had settled herself by the tree to pass around the presents. One was even handed to Marionette. His reaction was a gradual change from surprise to confusion, and then to glee when he realized what he'd unwrapped and held was an animal hoodie. A black and white cat, based on the ears and attached tail. Reese thankfully got her wish, an actual gift from Springtrap being handed to her. It didn't take her long at all to identify what it was.
"A SPRINGBONNIE HOODIE!" She wasted no time in putting on the golden jacket, lightly playing with the attached ears, bow tie, and puff of a tail. "I'm never taking this off!" she declared, hurrying to return a hug in thanks. "Huh! You will if we're goin' to wash it," Rune corrected with a brief point. "Where did you guys even find this? Nobody in town is selling it," Reese spoke as she pulled back from Faye's counterpart. White eyes narrowed in thought. "Hm. Dearest? Do you remember what that website was called?" Spring wondered, turning to Faye. "Etsy," she answered, simply. Thank goodness for online shopping. Excitedly, Reese gave another audible thanks before proceeding to chase her best friend around the living room. "Heh. Last I checked, Reese, cats chase the rabbits--not vice versa. But, uh, before you go off to play, I still have to get you your gift," Faye interjected, moving as though to get up. "Oh! It's okay, Auntie. I can get it," Reese spoke up, pushing back the hood from over her head. "Hm? Well, okay. It's in my room, under the bed," instructed the hare, the family watching as the girl ran off to search the designated location. There was an eventual squeal, and the girl came running back with something in both arms. A large blue bunny plush with red cheeks. "I got a Toy Bonnie! Thank you, Auntie!" Another hug, and then she proceeded to show it off to the puppet. "That mean you like your presents, sugar plum?" smiled Mitch, at least distracted by his daughter's happiness. "Yes! I love them, so much. Thank you!" Reese beamed, focused now on digging through her stocking for her sweets.
"Glad to hear, lil' darlin'. Shoppin' for you wasn't easy, this year. An' speakin' o' which, isn't it the bunnies' turn?" inquired her mother.
Alert, Faye straightened herself on the couch. "Um! Yeah. Uh, mine's in a manila envelope," she said, pointing behind the tree. Rune looked and reached to present it. A small green bow had been stuck to it. Faye took it, offering it to her partner. But instead of opening it right away, Springtrap accepted it, only to set it aside. Before anyone could ask, he explained. "If I may, I'd like to offer mine, first." Curious, Faye agreed with a brief gesture. A sly smile found its way onto Rune's face as the larger animatronic reached within his chest cavity to pull something through a hole in his chest's hatch: a small, recognizable black box. Before it was even opened, the family responded with various feedback. Marionette jingled curiously, fingertips pressed together. Reese emitted a sharp gasp. Rune only continued to smile knowingly, while her husband stood in act to protest. He was stopped by his wife, whom threw an empty gift box at him. "Remember what I said," she quietly told him. Tense eyes were turned to the father and husband, all wondering if he would let this be carried out. Physically, they could tell he was fighting a mental battle with himself. His beliefs against his family's. Despite only being Faye's brother, Mitch knew too well he was going to have to make a decision that was ultimately up to both Faye and their father. Sadly, their father would not be present to handle the responsibility.
He had to learn to let his sibling go. Letting out a slow breath, Mitch lowered his head, forcing himself to sit again. He felt his jaw clench and throat tighten as the larger rabbit stood, knelt in front of her, and ultimately asked her those four words. A part of him wanted to be ill when he heard his sister's response.
"Absolutely."
It pained him to see her wrap her arms around her counterpart, his own tightly embracing her. He didn't even hear his daughter's excited cheers, her statements about finally being able to call Springtrap her uncle. He ignored his wife's compliments, her words of congratulations. And when he caught sight of the ring, Mitch felt a flicker of anger. A silver band, diamonds of increasing size leading up to a blossomed rose. All of the petals were covered with smaller diamonds, the center of the flower housing the largest of them all. He recognized the ring. It had belonged originally to Rune's grandmother. Given to her in her inheritance when her grandmother passed. She'd given THAT to Springtrap?! How?! Well, granted, it was a sweet gesture with good intentions, but...still! This was HIS sister, and that was RUNE'S possession. Green eyes shifted between the two women. Rune looked happy, pleased. Faye, well...if she were still able to cry, he could bet she'd do so. Her attention wasn't on him, though. It was still glued to the rabbit having successfully asked for her hand. He was not the only one beside himself; Marionette wasn't sure whether or not to join in with their celebrating. Certainly, he was happy that THEY were happy. And sure, in the past few months, his father had proven he was trying to do better, to resist harming children. There wouldn't be any forgetting the little incident with a neighbor's birthday party, though. Faye had done as she was programmed, keeping the larger rabbit away from the kids playing in the neighboring yards. Nobody was hurt, and most of the kids were convinced it was all an act. But...what if it HADN'T been? There was no denying Faye was capable of fending off Springtrap's "malfunctions", so...perhaps this wouldn't be a terrible arrangement? All thoughts were put on hold upon Reese's comment of going outside to play, make an army of snowmen. Marionette knew that meant, "Let's give the rabbits time to themselves". He accompanied her and Rune, Mitch left to sort through his emotions in the dining room. All that left were Faye and her fiance.
...It made her power core hum to finally call him that.
"Are you going to open your present, now?" she asked, situated on the couch while Springtrap sat on the floor before her, head placed in her lap. "If you'd like me to," he replied, lifting a hand to accept the envelope. He carefully opened it and reached in to pull out its contents. Several sheets of paper, all littered with elaborate drawings. No. Blueprints, rather. But this time, they weren't for Faye. Judging by the designs, they were all for HIM. Intrigued, Springtrap cycled through each design, all varying from a restoration to his SpringBonnie appearance to a furry, slim-bodied version of his current state. He just now had to decide which version he liked best. "You really are an artist, dearest. I can't really choose which will be ideal," he lightly chuckled, focused so much on the prints that he missed out on Faye's shy body language. That was until he reached the final blueprint. Something about it threw him off. Widened eyes soon narrowed in suspicion. "Wait up a second. This one can't be right. It certainly looks like me, but...the proportions are far too small. The height and weight just don't make sense." He looked to his soon-to-be bride, finally noting her sudden shyness. Partly-lidded eyes flashed blue as they locked with his. He spared another look to the paper, then...he knew. "His name's on the back," Faye told him, watching as he flipped it over to read what she'd written. There was a sense of pride and joy in the sarcastic glance Springtrap shot her. "I do think I'm beginning to rub off on you, dearest~"
"But, oh, I love it so~" She leaned close to brush her nose against his.
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Mitch dreaded this day. Hated that it had even come to be. Yet, a part of him knew how selfish of him it would be to deny his sister her new life. A new chapter had begun, taking her to new places. Taking her forward. A part of him was glad to witness her progress, but he still despised having to do this. To force himself to say goodbye. Yet, he needed to face this reality, as he reached to grab a set of gold keys from its hook. Several days ago, on the evening of Christmas, he had confirmed permission for Rune to hand over their present to the rabbits. Thanks to careful arrangements with finances, namely from both their parents' and Faye's life insurance, the Wilsons were able to put in a six-month reservation of a condo in Vegas. A place where the animatronics could wander without a suspicious eye. A place where they could enjoy themselves. An outlandish place where sentient robots like them could fit in. His wife's idea, really. He'd just helped fund it. Fast-forward to the day after New Years', and here he was, about to turn over the keys to the vehicle once belonging to a certain purple-clad man. With a low groan, the man stepped out from the house and around to the driveway. The well-kept classic car shone in the sunlight, practically glowing in all its purple-painted glory. Beside it was the family, his wife and daughter standing with the slim, dark form of the puppet. Before them was a patiently-waiting Springtrap and Faye, whom spoke with the family. Rune was occupied, making sure the two had everything they needed to make the drive. Upon his approach, Mitch watched them all exchange hugs, hearing Faye tell her niece to do well in school so that they could visit the two in the Summer. After Reese's promise to do so, Mitch offered the keys with a sad smile. Naturally, Springtrap moved to take them, but Faye beat him to it.
"You're far too big for the driver's seat, honey-bunny~"
"It's my vehicle, sweetheart."
"That may be so, but there were reasons you didn't drive it while wearing SpringBonnie. Looks like I'll be driving--and you'll be taking up the back seat." The mint-colored hare pointed to the back seats of the car in emphasis. Despite his annoyed look, Spring knew she was right. He just hated that she was right. Pleased with his "submission", Faye turned again to her brother. "Well, car's all packed, and...I guess we're ready to hit the road," she began. "Rune gave you the phone I bought you?" he asked in turn. "She did. Charged, and we have the cable packed. We also have your emergency numbers, as well as tools in the trunk, if we need to change any tires on the way, there. Card for gas is in the center console, and we have jumper cables should the battery die. Unlikely, but you never know," Faye listed back, pausing to look at the vehicle. "We also have the physical copies of the condo reservations AND the business number. We've got everything covered, bro." His nod was hesitant. "Okay. Er, glad to see you've prepared. So...I guess if you're ready..." Mitch attempted to speak, not wanting to say his parting words. Not yet. Lord, wasn't she in high school, not too long ago? Where did the time go? His breath caught in his throat as cold arms gently closed around him. "It's going to be okay, Mitch. You're strong. Probably the strongest guy I know. Not only took care of me, but raised a family, too. You guys'll be just fine," his sister reassured, holding him in her embrace. It must have taken him an eternity to return that hug. "Just be careful, squirt. And call when you get there. Please?" Mitch spoke, head resting on hers. "Mom and Dad would be proud of you," she admitted, a smile finally tugging at his lips. "You too, Faye. Love you." They hesitantly separated, the man finally turning to the rabbit he hated most. "And you..." The words wanted to leave his mouth, to be heard. Yet, another glance to his sister told him to save it. There was no need for "bad blood" in this recovering family. Tense body relaxed with a breath. Instead of throwing a fist, what he really wanted to do, Mitch held up and offered a hand to shake. Be better. For your sister. "Just...be good to my sister," he said. The mechanical animal neared to return the gesture. "Have no doubts, Mr. Wilson," Springtrap began, white eyes narrowing slightly as they flashed purple. "I will~"
Mitch fought the urge to curl that hand into a fist as the two moved to sit in the car. "Bye, Auntie Faye! Bye, Uncle Spring!" called Reese, she and Marionette waving them off as the car drove off to begin its journey. The husband and father soon felt his wife's comforting touch. "I'm so proud o' ya, love. An' don't worry about Faye; she's a tough bunny," Rune attempted to calm him. Well, bunny or not, that was still HIS sister. "He mistreats her, he'll pay for it," Mitch promised, glare not lifting from the car until it had driven from sight. Inside, he cursed William. A child-killer, the murderer of his only sibling...
He still won over Faye.
****************************************
The clock ticked endlessly as its arms displayed 2:45 in the afternoon. They would be here in fifteen minutes. A rough estimation, anyway. Confirming the time frame, Faye returned to stirring the side dishes warming on the stove. A meal not intended for her, of course; she had company coming. Her previous family. People she hadn't seen since the wedding, 2 months prior. With recent events, she thought it best to feed them here at home. She had online videos to thank for the impromptu cooking lessons! In the oven, a ham was almost done baking. A timer was set to let her know when it was done. Behind her, Faye could hear the sounds of war from the TV in the living room. Another video game. "Smiling", she shook her head. Funny how easily Spring had fallen into picking up that habit. Ah, but he'd earned it. Getting a job had been his immediate concern when they'd moved here. It didn't take him long to score one. Or HER, for that matter. Spring had once said he'd entertained the idea of programming her new body to sing. Just to test this, Faye had practiced singing along with most known songs. High notes had been rough, but she managed. Comfortable with this singing ability, she'd practiced alongside Spring's guitar, the pair eventually taking the act to the streets. Crowds of people gradually built up to watch and listen. The better their performances, the better their tips became. In time, the pair agreed to make this their job, saving their earnings to pay for their home and to fund the construction of Spring's new body. To reduce the strain on the two, uncertain of what to do with an intact animatronic after the fact, they chose to re-use his current endoskeleton, but not without its replacements and repairs. Meanwhile, they had focused their efforts on crafting a new "skin" to cover this skeleton. The result of Spring's lineup was a mix of two designs. Primarily, it would look much like his SpringBonnie character, but it would have dark-gold fur, and still be missing half of its right ear. He'd also asked for claws and sharp teeth for his endo-skull. Faye allowed a pass for the teeth, but refused the claws. At least, not on his hands. His endo-jaws were further back in his mouth to reassure her he couldn't accidentally sever her cables during their private moments. However, he was awfully active with his hands, so claws on his fingers had potential for disaster. That, and his endoskeleton wouldn't allow for "sheathed" claws like Faye's, so they had to settle with talons on his feet.
Besides his upgrades, they had also been working on a slightly...smaller project--
Faye was startled by knocking at the door. Silencing her thoughts, the hare moved to answer, opening the door for her brother and his family. "Hey, everyone," she greeted. "Auntie Faye!" grinned Reese, hurrying to give the animatronic a hug. She was again wearing her bunny hood. Her father then picked her up, holding her in one arm while hugging his sister with the other. "Good to see you again, squirt," he smirked, making room for Rune and Marionette to exchange hugs with her. "'Ow have you been, these last few months?" Rune asked as the family was led inside to the dining room. "Busy, for sure. Establishing a new job, giving Spring a makeover--" the hare began, listing them off on her fingers. "A makeover? For HIM?" snickered Mitch, whom set Reese back down. "We both agreed he needed it, yes. Anyway, we've put aside some money for it, and took to making new pieces to replace his old ones. It didn't take us long, surprisingly," the younger sibling explained, hiding the annoyance at her brother's immaturity. "What are you guys doing, now?" Reese wondered. "Currently? I'm making your dinner," played her aunt as she motioned to the stove. At Reese's giggle, she continued. "We're both performers, now. Spring plays guitar, and I sing. Not at expert level yet, but I'm getting there. Most people are fascinated by seemingly-lone animatronic performers by default, so that's helped. During the Halloween season, though, Spring's going to work a temporary second job at...whichever haunted house attraction hires him. His scare factor's gone up since we put in his new endo-jaws."
At the mention, Reese peered around the combined dining room and kitchen. "Is Uncle Spring here?"
"Yeah, he's here. Probably playing video games, again," stated her aunt, whom brought drinks to the table as everyone was seated. Save for Marionette, whom chose to hover nearby. He couldn't drink, anyway. "Already?" was Mitch's rhetorical question as he sipped his drink. "It's our day off, and he can spend it as he likes," Faye lightly defended, knowing how her brother felt about her husband. "Besides, we had made enough in tips yesterday to allow it." Briefly leaving the table, Faye returned to the stove. "By the way, you guys picked an amazing condo. Has a nice view of the city, especially at night," she complimented. Rune permitted a grin, "My thoughts exactly. An' here your brother was worried you'd hate it. 'Too small', or somethin' like that." Her husband shrugged, "I never got to see it in person until now, and I really didn't feel comfortable giving my sister less than what I have." Before they could "debate", Faye verbally stepped in. "Now, guys. Really, I love it. And we have just enough space, thank you. Has some seclusion away from public eyes, and has lovely views. Rather peaceful out here, compared to the chaos of the city. Relatively, anyway." The stove was soon set to warm, and the ham was taken out of the oven. "If he's here, then where is he?" Reese tried again. "Spring? In the living room. Likely playing with our kit." At Faye's last words, Mitch spit out his drink. "Your...your what?" he choked. "Our kit? You know...a little rabbit?" Faye replied, handing him napkins. Reese gasped, shooting up from her chair, "A baby bunny! I wanna see!" Into the living room, she ran--with Marionette not far behind. Surprised, Rune turned to Faye, resting her chin in a palm, "You never told us about a lil' bun. When did that happen?"
"About a month ago. We were still in the construction of his new body," Faye sheepishly responded.
"You...made a KID...with H--" Mitch was abruptly cut off by Rune's elbow. Obviously, he wasn't thrilled to hear his sister had started a family with the man whom had killed her! Unaware of this, Reese hurried into the living room, quickly finding the brownish rabbit seated on a couch. He was indeed playing a video game, something with a first-person shooter mode and mechanical monsters. He wasn't alone. Sitting beside him was a much smaller rabbit. It resembled him well, but had SpringBonnie's gold fur in contrast to Spring's brownish tone. It had Faye's light-blue eyes and SpringBonnie's purple bow tie. In appearance, it looked plushy. Yet, on either side of its muzzle were a series of elastic bands--stitched on either side of his mouth as if to prevent him from opening his jaws. "Hiya, Uncle Spring!" called Reese, hurrying in to hug him. At her greeting, Springtrap paused the game, emitting a surprised noise with the girl's impact. "Glad to see you too, Reese," he said, patting her head. Pulling away, the girl took in his new appearance. "Whoa...you look different. Like SpringBonnie, but...not. Oh, wait! Was this that makeover thing Auntie mentioned?" With a short laugh, the large rabbit nodded, causing his ears to bounce. "We figured it was time for a change. After all, anyone would grow tired of looking as though they're falling apart," he told her. Not pressing further, she looked to the smaller bunny beside him. It hadn't spoken, opting to watch in silence. "Aw, it's cute. Who is it?" she commented. Shifting his attention, Spring placed his empty hand on the small bunny's head, parting its ears. "Say hello to Plushtrap. He's our son." In awe over him, Reese moved closer to Plush, "Hiya, Plush. My name's Reese. I'm your cousin. Look!" She showed off her hoodie. "I kinda look like you." Plush only tilted his head, still not speaking. "Could I pet you?" Reese asked, reaching a hand toward him. Springtrap immediately caught it. "Careful, Reese. Plush bites."
"He does? Is that why he has stitches around his mouth?"
"Yes. As a safety precaution. It's...not his fault, though. Mostly a side-effect from when Faye and I made him. See, he needed a soul to come to life, so Faye suggested we fuse a small part of ours. The process is difficult to explain. Just...know it involved cables and a tiny power core."
Nodding slowly, Reese emitted a small noise. "Does he talk?" She looked at Plush, once more. "Can you say 'hi'?" The small rabbit slightly sank in place. "...I can. I just don't want to," he said, his voice sounding like a young boy's. "I don't even know you, yet," he added. She smiled, "Well, my parents and I are visiting, so you'll get to know me. OH! Wait! If you're Uncle Spring's kid, then...that means Emmy's your brother! Emmy, come here! Say 'hi' to your new brother!" Curious eyes drifted to the slim figure, whom shied away. ANOTHER brother? Oh, no. He hoped this one wouldn't turn out like Michael. Still, with some coaxing, he hesitantly hovered over, heeding his father's warning about Plush biting. It wasn't long before the rest of the family entered the picture. Shock claimed Mitch's face at Plush's appearance. Rune, meanwhile...gently approached and picked up the small bunny. Plush was uncertain, but calmed in knowing both of his parents were present. "'Ello there, Plush. Name's Rune. I'm Reese's mother an' your mum's sister-in-law. Nice to meet you." She turned to show him to Mitch. "An' this is my husband, Mitchel. Most call him 'Mitch'. He's your mum's brother."
Plush's brows furrowed, "But...he's...human. He's not...he's not a bunny, like us."
"Well, no. But your mum used to be human. Did she tell you?"
"...No."
"Well, THAT'S goin' to be quite the story. Why don't we gather at the table, an' tell you all about it?"
Plushtrap glanced to his parents, "Can we?" His mother and father exchanged glances, the father eventually standing and leaving the game paused. "That settles it, then. To the table," Rune smiled, Marionette and Reese each walking by her side as she took Plushtrap and her unwilling husband to the dining table. This was obviously a lot for him to process. The two parental rabbits, meanwhile, hung back a time to speak. "I doubt your brother is going to handle this, well," Spring 'sighed', setting a hand around Faye's lower back as she neared him. "I can't blame him. But on the same token, he's going to need to adjust. He's got a family, and now, so do I. Either way, we'll need to tread carefully over dinner," she replied. "Hm, not TOO carefully, I hope? After all, it's a story we still have to tell our Plush--and I fancy including EVERY little detail~" he 'grinned'. Faye lightly snickered. Every detail, hm? "You just want to set my brother off," she deduced. "See him struggle, when he knows there's little he can do? Of course, dearest~" She emitted another giggle, eyes glowing purple as they walked toward the dining room. "Alright, but I'm covering Plush's ears during the mature bits~"
There was a dark chuckle from her husband, his own eyes glowing the same shade. "I'm going to enjoy watching him squirm~"