Chapter Text
Alec liked having something to do. Michael generally had Alec and Greg do things in the backroom to occupy them (and keep Alec out of the reach of children who’d want to take him home).
Their current task was to drag a box from storage into parts and services. Greg commented on the box being pretty light, so he was mostly carrying it with Alec sitting on top.
What do you think’s in it? Alec wrote on his notepad.
“Dunno,” Greg responded. “Probably cables or something.”
They both turned their attention to the small animatronic character that entered their space in the hallway. Something about Helpy made Alec uneasy, but Greg didn’t seem to notice it.
“Hiya.” Greg greeted.
“Hello, boys,” Helpy responded. “I just saw Hazel outside.”
“She’s always here,” Greg replied, continuing on.
Helpy followed. “She was with the Lonely Freddy, today.” Alec rolled his eyes. “They were playing a game.”
“What game?” Greg asked.
“I’m not sure you can attribute a name to it.” Helpy shrugged. “But they’re competing to see who can get in the staff-only area and back without being caught.”
“Oh.” Greg looked toward Alec. “If we can corner the Lonely Freddy, we can get your body back.”
“Indeed,” Helpy commented. Alec shrugged.
“We gotta tell Pa.” Greg decided, walking a bit faster. Helpy stopped following after that.
“It’s not like we really had any set plan,” Michael murmured. He was holding the box Greg and Alec delivered to him, tilting it so the contents shifted and clashed on the inside. “I guess cornering him will be the best course of action here, but that would include assuming we know where he’s going to be.”
“We could find him on the security cameras, right?” Greg asked.
Or Lolbit could do it. Alec signed.
“That’s… actually a good idea.” Michael mused. He set the box aside and went to fish his phone out of his pocket when Lolbit appeared before them in an eyestrain of glitchy colour.
“I heard.” They said simply. “And I’m on board. Currently, both Lonely Freddy and Hazel are wandering outside near the stage. Neither have made a move to get past security yet.”
Michael pulled his phone out regardless. “Okay, I’ll text Stanley.”
“How did you know we were talking about that?” Greg asked Lolbit.
“I have eyes and ears everywhere.” Lolbit laughed, a glitching, almost mocking, laugh, and then disappeared in the same display of eyesore lights they arrived in.
“Well, that’s not… weird and scary at all,” Greg muttered.
“They mean well, I think,” Michael said. “But they weren’t initially programmed for this sort of thing.”
“Did you not program Lolbit?” Greg asked.
“Nah, my father did,” Michael replied. “I just repurposed them. Lolbit doesn’t let me get close enough to look into their programming.” He pauses, looking back at the box again and taps his fingers on the table. “I’m sure you boys can corner the Lonely Freddy and hold him still long enough for Alec to initiate the swap process, though if you’re having trouble you could probably get Lolbit or maybe Yenndo to help you.”
“What’re you going to do?” Greg asked, quicker than Alec could sign it.
Michael pats the box they brought him. “Fix up these little bots of nightmare fuel.”
“I didn’t know Lolbit had access to my phone.” Greg mused, looking at the few updates said animatronic had sent him in regards to the Lonley Freddy and Hazel’s positions.
I don’t think Michael knows. Alec wrote.
“Probably.” Greg agreed. “Lolbit says Hazel’s inside, but the Lonely Freddy has yet to make a move.”
Lolbit was made in the 80s, right? How did Michael’s Dad know what the word ‘Lol’ meant? Alec added after a moment.
Greg paused, stopping mid-stride. “Oh, huh.” He muttered. “True.” They both pondered on it for a moment. “Must’ve just been a coincidence.”
They were patrolling the hallways for an off chance they’d run into someone (which they did; every now and then on of the smaller animatronics or a service bot walked or wheeled past.)
“Hey, you ever notice now Stanley’s like… the only person who comes back here?” Alec paused as Greg continued; “Like, there’s that girl, Vanny, who’s also security, like him. And Papa’s mentioned people he works with but there almost no actual employees here. They’re all bots.”
Alec blinked. “Maybe it’s to avoid staff problems?” he guessed. “But what makes Stanley and Vanny so special?”
It seemed Greg was just going to keep talking to himself. Though it was an interesting question to ponder on.
Everything Michael did regarding this building was to make it the safest it could be. Alec wasn’t too educated in what happened in the past, but it must’ve been bad if he was that uptight about having employees in the actual building.
Greg’s phone vibrates and he looks at the new message. “Lonely Freddy’s in the game. Lolbit has Yenndo closing in on him. They’re not too far.” He takes the lead, with Alec following. (Alec refused to be carried by Greg specifically. He had some dignity to maintain.)
Hazel stood off to the side of the room, apprehensively watching Yenndo restrain L.F. Lolbit was poking and prodding at the body, technically all human, with some morbid interest.
L.F. kicked and shouted angrily, crying out to Hazel for help.
Stanley was there too, but, as uninformed as he was, had no idea what was happening. If Michael let it happen then it was probably fine… Probably.
Alec and Greg entered as Stanley opened the door to leave, muttering to himself.
“So, how does this work, exactly?” Greg asked. Alec looked up at him and shrugged. His plan was basically just to try and stare at the thing wearing his flesh down until the swap process started.
L.F. stopped fighting to get free when it saw Alec, eyes narrowing.
“Oh.” It muttered. “I see what’s happening.” A smirk grew on it’s - Alec’s face – but it looked cruel and twisted. Hazel stepped a bit closer to Greg as her brother approached the enemy. L.F. closed his eyes, seeming triumphant. “You don’t even know how to activate the swapping process.” It mocked. “And it doesn’t even work without eye contact.”
This made Alec angry. He wanted his body back, and he’d do whatever it took.