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Goldie never hated Toy Freddy.
He didn’t really have a reason to. Sure, he was a bit of a party pooper from time to time with the tattling—but he never got on his bad side. In fact, he was quite fond of the other bear, his jumpy and shy personality was quite cute in Goldie’s eyes.
So when the three bears walked swiftly up the stairs from the basement, and when Goldie’s eyes locked onto the sight of a familiar arm wrapped around the small bear in a comforting and protecting manner—he couldn’t quite understand the sudden rising feeling of absolute hatred that filled his body.
Goldie felt remorse from the close call with the bear due to his own hands, and something ached inside him to express his regret; like a string had been tied to his heart and would tug him towards the other until his mouth would finally murmur an apology.
He’s stubborn—he admits, but he isn’t a monster.
So why did a sudden burst of rage take over his whole system. His body, his thoughts—he couldn’t peel his eyes away from the sight in from of him. It felt like the wires and parts inside him were crafted just to aid him to lunge at the pair and strip his arm off his replacement.
He couldn’t understand—Goldie had made peace long ago with the fact that him and Freddy could never go back to the way they were before, that the older bear would never look at him again without the overwhelming disappointment in his eyes that felt like water to his wires.
That he’d never be the one basking in the warmth and comfort of the other bears touch.
So why.
Why did the immense and utterly unbearable feeling of jealousy that he stuffed and shoved down to the pits of his animatronic body so long ago come crawling back to the peaks of his system. Why now? Why in front of them?
Goldie felt on display, like each of his limbs were tied to a string and puppeteered onto the stage with only half a costume on—half an act on.
He felt as if his system were on fire, and as if the pair had worked together to light the match.
Goldie was so lost— buried in his thoughts, that he hadn’t realized he was trailing behind more than he was before. His legs stopped moving, and the distant sounds of the two bears reaching the top of the staircase was all he could hear as he lifted his hands to study them. The hands that had almost gotten himself them killed. He reminded himself.
He hadn’t even noticed he was shaking.
..
Ha! I guess he was a bit shaken up over such a close call! Nothing more, nothing less.
He narrowed his eyes with a frown before balling his hands into fists.
No, he thought to himself. Goldie does not falter whilst on stage. His facade will not fall in front of the audience.
He took a small moment to compose himself, the dark inside of his eyelids providing a much needed break of the view that was forcefully etched into his mind.
He let out a sharp exhale before rubbing his eyes open. He craned his neck to look at the top of the stairs once more, and found a pair of bright blue and oh so familiar— eyes staring back at him.
He got the message.
No, Goldie wasn’t planning on sneaking back down those cold steps and back into danger, he hadn’t even considered it.
Freddy had always been the sceptical one, and quite an over-thinker. Back when him and Freddy were still…them, the manager would treat them to a vhs tape every now and then, and after dark, him and Freddy would cook up a hot batch of popcorn and borrow the vhs player that the new employees used for training to watch a movie.
Freddy was always two steps ahead, no matter how many ideas Goldie threw out into the open, Freddy always guessed the entire plot before the thought had even crossed his mind. No matter how crazy it seemed.
“It was his lack of sincerity.” Freddy had once stared during the credits, while Goldie shoved another handful of popcorn into his mouth.
“But that doesn’t make any sense!” He argued back, his reply muffled between the crunches of popcorn.
“Why would he risk his life to save him if he was just going to betray him in the end?!” Goldie questioned, his brows furrowed in confusion as he replayed the scenes in his head.
“To gain his trust.” He said, like it was the most obvious answer in all of pizza.
“His life was never at risk, he just had to make them think that it was.”
Goldie never understood how Freddy saw the twist from a mile away, even now he still has no idea.
But what he learnt from his time with the older bear, is that no matter how much you plan, Freddy had already known before you even thought of it.
So no, the thought of possibly even going back into the risk of being dismantled hadn’t crossed his mind.
But he guessed from the way Freddy’s face scrunched up slightly, and the quick but very noticeable way his eyes flashed with anger, that Freddy knew before the thought had even scratched the surface of his system.
Before he could even process his movement, he was already unconsciously making way to the top of the stairs, his gaze pinned on the ground to avoid the utter criticizing stare of Freddy’s.
He sensed Freddy moving back to face the front, the sounds of his feet sliding against the concrete staircase was the only thing that filled the unbearable awkward silence. Goldie felt the tension in his shoulders release when he felt Freddy’s gaze leave him, a shuddered sigh leaving his mouth.
The three of them stood at the top of the stairs, Goldie standing about two steps down just to put some distance between them, but not too far so that he would feel that piercing gaze on his figure. His body shuddered with the thought.
He leaned against the wall while he waited for Freddy to open the door. He felt his face scrunching as he watched the two ahead. Toy Freddy hesitatingly turned to face the other, almost in question, as if asking for support. Support that Freddy would be ever so glad to give. A hand rested on the younger bear’s shoulder, a slight reassuring smile etched across his face.
Yuck . He thought to himself, rolling his eyes.
Finally, Freddy turned to face the door once more, and actually reached forward to turn the knob and push it open.
Goldie winced and his arm immediately shot up to cover his eyes as the piercing light from the other side of the door made its way through the crack of the doorway.
The pair in front took a step and the door now fully swung open. It took a second, but Goldie’s eyes eventually adjusted to the light and his arm—no longer having use, fell back to meet his side.
The two bears then made way for the open, Goldie following hesitatingly behind. The first thing he saw with his new readjusted vision, was the hand that once rested encouragingly on Toy Freddy’s shoulder, now rested on his back.
Goldie’s eyes darted across the room. Oh what nice floors we have! He thought. Has the others—mainly Chica, been cleaning up recently?
His eyes searched the room once more, landing on something that was to be expected, but something he still dreaded.
The eyes of every animatronic in this pizzeria staring right at him.
Now he knew he looked like a mess, after all he had put up quite a fight down there, not to mention that he’s almost positive he’s trembling like a leaf. And it doesn’t help that he has close to zero access to cleaning services, so he doesn’t look much worse than before.
But…
He had a feeling their judgmental stares weren’t because of his looks.
Well, it doesn’t hurt to distract himself.
He tilted his head slightly towards the checkered tiles of the pizzeria, avoiding direct eye contact, but still able to see the movement of his surroundings.
A couple animatronics had walked up and asked what had happened, them all sharing the same face of concern. And suddenly he was attempting to figure out what shade the tiles were.
It’s not like he expected them to never find out, they always did. He supposes it’s almost remorse, coursing through his system every time he pulls yet another “prank” like this. Nonetheless, despite knowing the aftermath, he continues.
His thoughts had blocked out what most of them were saying, but he did catch a few expected words directed towards the golden bear, which wasn’t helping the guilt he was practically swimming in.
Suddenly the eyes felt too much, like each stare was a laser that was burning him under their gaze. Suddenly he felt the room sway, throwing him off balance, the air too thin. And suddenly the idea of fleeing didn’t seem too bad.
He had stood there remorsefully enough as punishment, taking their piecing eyes when he could have easily, easily! — showed him who really was!
They’re at his mercy.
They should be glad he’s containing himself.
So, without a second thought, and without sparing a second glance above—he teleported away.