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Mangle's usual hiding spot in the kid's cove was crowded by a handful of overly-curious kids, forcing her to travel through the dust cluttered vents.
From there , she could admire what was her best and only friend, Toy Chica. she was part of the main attraction - her , Bonnie, Freddy, and even Foxy.
Her glossy, pink cheeks that were perfect circles and her shiny, yellow, metal glistened on her face, almost as if she was a complete mirror for all the stage lights. it played such a deep contrast into Mangle's exposed wires and stratched pink metal,
She envied her.
On the stage, Toy Chica was singing her normal song she sang everyday to the largest crowd of the week, since it was a busy Saturday evening , turning and prancing across the stage, a spectacle
practically begging to be seen by everybody.
Every instance when Toy Chica turned, she glanced up toward the vent and saw Mangle's yellow glowing eye through the slits, and expressed a faint smile.
Toy chica thought of Mangle as the best friend and supporter a person could ask for, especially when it came to the first shows of the week.
She almost felt sorry for Mangle as ever since she got put out of service, they'd never really been the same.
But of course, she didnt want to have the same fate as her.
So, she had to keep going, performing everyday.
But still, inevitably , she still envied her. Her freedom . Not needing to work these long shifts would be a blessing in itself, yet Chica wasnt blessed with it.
She wishes.
Usually after every day shift, there's a short period of time - about an hour - between the last employee leaving, and the security guard coming in for the night shift.
It was another new security guard, as a result of the last facing a terrible fate at the hands of Bonnie, so all the animatronics agreed to take it easy on him tonight.
After their meeting, everyone went their own ways except Chica.
"Mangle! Wait up!" Chica walked as fast as her metallic legs could move her and traversed through the clanging of the animatronics moving from the main party room.
"Oh..Chica..." Mangle looked almost sad before she replied, but quickly changed her countenance to a surprised look. "I watched your show today, it was really good ! Dont you get tired at all?"
"I mean today was just like any old Saturday! I dtend to not feel it anymore!" Chica sighed with a pained laugh, she did feel it, but what if Mangle would take it as a pompous brag? She wanted to change the topic to avoid it from escalating any further.
"So...how are you? Are you hanging in there?"
Chica almost facepalmed herself right there and then.
"Hanging in there? Are you serious!?"
For some reason she just couldn't get her words right when with Chica, And her rosy cheeks always felt like they'd get hotter and hotter.
Luckily, Mangle didnt realise the weirdness behind what she'd said, distracted by the entrance caused by Toy Chica's beauty and just responded normally.
"I'm fine, just a little more fatigued than usual.. But I hope it won't get to the point where they'll use me for parts and service!"
She said it with a chuckle, and it was a joke of course, but a real fear nonetheless.
"To be honest Chica , I think they'll give up on me sooner or later." She wipes her face with her galvanised paw. "I wouldnt be mad at them, I mean just look at me..."
She motions towards her exposed wires , one of them clearly causing her much pain and discomfort, a potential hazard if it were to touch water.
"No! they can't!" Chica swiftly grabs Mangle's arm mid-action, and grips it firmly. " I wont let them take you!"
Realising what she'd done, she loosens her grip on Mangle's arm. With a stutter, she blurts out,
"Me personally, I think you're pretty. Beautiful in fact. "
"Plus the silver works with your eyes," She says with a giggle.
Chica's eyes widen and she can feel her cheeks almost heating up as she speaks. Mangle shakes her head in disagreement, despite the words being said clear to her face.
"I think it's what makes you, you, Mangle. You're different from the others and I like that"
The distance between the two narrows, and Mangle's endoskeleton calms down for the first time in a long while.
The pizzeria had never felt such sensual tension ever before, and its almost unbreakable.
Mangle's mismatched eyes turn to look at Chica, only to find Chica was already looking at her.
3 years of chemistry and unnamed tension shot between their eyes, and the first brick was placed in what looked to be the beginning of their relationship - or whatever this was.
Mangle exhaled softly and made a gentle smile. She'd been so focused on comparing herself that she didnt notice what Chica saw in her.
She didnt notice what she saw in Chica.
(Suddenly, the Kid's Cove doesnt seem so kid-friendly anymore!)
Mangle rushes into Chica's arms into an embrace and they stay silent for what felt like eternity.
Chica extends her arms out around Mangle, tracing the intricacy of her wiring on the back of the endoskeleton. It's a strange comfort that both hadn't felt in a long while.
Mangle holds her breath from the butterflies in her stomach and pecks on Chica's forehead.
Chica's body finally relaxes and they both fall into the comfort of each other's love. The nerves and envy they felt have all transformed into that one , powerful emotion.
Love.