Chapter Text
So, here he is. Again. In the parking lot of the Pizzaplex.
He never thought he'd be standing here again for a long while, and he would never mean that in a negative way.
It has been...13? 14 years ago? Since the incident and the malfunction problem. It was a very big memory in his life that always played in the back of his head. But he had helped fix them, and with a little bit of bravery, he was able to befriend all the animatronics. He stayed there for a year until he basically ghosted them because someone had taken him in for shelter and put him in a school.
So yeah, he can say that this place brings back memories.
But today, Gregory is a changed man. He's got an average job, an average apartment, and some of the things he wanted. He had gone to school and even graduated college with a diploma. He was not coming there to scrounge for food, or to have a place to sleep from the rain, but there to bring his kid to a birthday party.
Yes, a kid. He had visited an adoption center several years ago and took home a boy named Aiden. A sweet, 6-year-old who looks familiar to Gregory himself. Gregory loved the kid with everything he owned.
Speaking of him, a tug on his sleeve brought him out of his head. "Dad, dad! Let's go in! Lilian's birthday party is in there."
"Alright, alright. Just let me make sure we got the tickets," He did, and started laughing when Aiden grabbed him by the wrist and promptly started dragging him towards the fancy building.
They entered the building and Gregory saw how little things changed, even after the building closed temporarily. The same arcade floors, fancy neon lights- the whole same show. Unnerving and comforting at the same time, Gregory thinks.
They got past the security gates and he guided them into the elevator. The elevator took them up and slid open. The second Gregory stepped through, though...
"Take a map! Take a map!"
"AGH!!!!"
"Dad?? Are you okay? It was just the bot," Aiden stared at him, and Gregory let out a sigh. He took a mao and watched it mindlessly turn away.
"Still freaky as always,", He muttered. "Where's the party at again?"
"Down the elevator, I think! The card says they should be there at a biiiiig party table,"
"Let's hop to it then,"
They made it down the escalator, and Gregory had to make sure Aiden didn't get trampled by the waves of excited kids and exhausted adults and managed to take them to the birthday girl's table.
Gregory had barely acknowledged his surroundings because he was immediately roped into talking to an adult.
"Hi! You must be Aiden's father?"
"Huh…? Uh, yes. Are you, um...what was her name again… oh Lilian's mother?"
"Yes, that's me. I just wanted to let you know that you can leave him with us and we'll take care of him. I believe you've met my husband, Corey, and have his number, yes?"
"I think I do, yeah. Just make sure Aiden does not get into trouble,"
"Of course! He will be safe, goodbye now!" The mother shooed him away with a few flicks of her hand. Quite rude, honestly. He just got there and was already leaving. Whatever. He will have to deal with it. On the bright side though, it will give him a chance to explore.
He picked up a Fizzy Faz drink from the party table, blueberry flavored, and set off to find his old friends. He knew that they still were working and alive since most TV channels have their faces plastered right in the back of the new reporters.
Nobody was on the stage performing, so he tried to see over the crowd. Sticking out, he saw a white chicken with triangle earrings waddling around, so he decided to go in her direction.
Gregory waited until Chica had finished her small meet and greet with the other gleeful children, cheering once they got a picture with her. She looked the same as he remembered, and he hoped she remembered him, even as an adult.
He stepped up in front of her, and he realized he was shaking. Was he scared? Why would he be scared? Chica was an old friend of his, and he was sure she wasn't going to try to harm him anyway.
Gregory tried to lift himself up his 5'3 self could let him, and opened his mouth. "Hi, Miss Chica. I'm uh, Gregory."
"Hello, Gregor…Gregory?" He swore he saw so many gears churning in her head when she realized. He was immediately swept into a bear (chicken?) hug, and he listened to her bawk happily.
"Gregory, Gregory! I have missed you so much!!" Her eyes shined brightly as she put him down. He coughed into his hand and smiled sheepishly.
"I've missed you too, Chica. It's been a while, huh?"
"It has! Ever since you left without a single goodbye, everyone has missed you very much!"
"Ah, yeah… Haha, um sorry about that. I got into a new school somehow and well I didn't have time to come back, so… I hope you aren't mad?"
"Mad?! Why would we be mad? We were upset for a while, but Freddy said that you'll come back! And look now, you did!" Chica chirped and excitedly kept shaking his hand. Always bubbly and happy-go-lucky, that was the Chica he loved.
"Haha, that's...amazing to hear. How are you? And the others?"
"I've been doing amazing! Ever since I've gotten an upgrade in, well, everything, my performances have been amazing!" She was glowing at this point, sparkling with every word that came out of her mouth. "The others? You should ask them for yourself, as they're most likely going to want to see your face. Speaking about you, you've changed so much! Your hair has grown out, and you've grown an inch!! Or a few. So I can assume you've been doing good!?"
"Yeah, I've been doing great myself...adopted a child and since then everything has been pretty smooth sailing."
"A child!?" Chicas beak unhinged, comedically he thought it was going to drop all the way to the ground.
"Yeah. It's funny too, he looks just like me. I'm here for a birthday party he was invited to,"
"Oh, my gosh!" The bird looked ecstatic, "Which table!? 3, 5? Or are they in a party room?"
"Ah...that table right there. With the Roxy balloons that look like are about to fly away,"
China squealed, "Great! See you later, Gregory! I have children to entertain!" And she bounced off.
Gregory sighed but chuckled to himself. Same old Chica he knew. He glanced up and saw the big, bold words of "ROXY RACEWAY!".
Guess where he's visiting next.