Chapter Text
Your mom was talking over the music in the car, the radio was just background noise most days anyways. It sounded vaguely like some pop music your classmates always listened to. She was arguing with Dad, phone pressed against her ear. He hadn't been home for longer than usual, but Mom was always mad at him now, and no matter what he did, nothing worked. He said he wouldn't miss your birthday, but he also said that last year. The conversation was cut short, mom sighing heavily as you made shapes in the condensation on the car window.
“I'm sorry baby, Daddy isn't going to be with us for your birthday today.” She gnawed on her lip before speaking again. “He said he'd see you tomorrow though.” Her words were soft when she first began talking, but the venom laced her tone when she continued speaking, voice wobbling a bit. She sounded like she expected this to happen.
You could see her looking at you from the rearview mirror, and you just shrugged, not feeling too engaged with what was happening. Staring out the window, a giant building came into view as your mother pulled into a massive parking lot. It wasn't like any other building you've seen before.
She unclipped herself from the seat, grabbing the purse that sat in the passenger side, and stepping outside of the car. Hurriedly, you did about the same, unstrapping yourself and hopping out of the car.
A neon sign, the light barely visible in the daytime, displayed the words: “Pizzaplex”. You immediately knew where you were. Eyes wide as you looked from the building and back to your mother a few times.
Your classmates were always talking about this place, the robots, the food, the games, and it always poked a hole through your heart. Figuratively.
The grin on your face made your mother's own smile tighten, but you didn't notice. She gripped your wrist as she tugged you along, walking through the parking lot and right up to the large doors, slipping past the other guests. It was mostly kids younger than you, dragging around their exhausted parents.
It was huge, the lights almost overwhelming, music coming from somewhere far away, and it was a bit warm, but it was hot outside, so it made sense. The air was slightly sticky too, but how could you really care about all of that? You were at the one place you've dreamed of going since two years ago! Your classmates had always talked about going with their parents or older siblings, and you were jealous, maybe even rightfully so. They'd brag about meeting the animatronics, or talk about some sort of daycare. You didn't really care for that part, you could take care of yourself.
“Alright, hurry up dear, we don't have a lot of time.” Your mom's voice pulled you out of your thoughts and you ran to catch up with her, not realizing how far she had gotten. When did she get papers in her hands?
Grabbing hold of her sleeve, you continued ogling your surroundings. The posters all had different things on them, and you even saw a few drawings made by other kids. The carpet had funny shapes on them and the neon signs pointed to different areas. It looked like you were heading to the daycare. Wait-
“Mom? Where are we going? Why aren't we going to the arcade or the stage or something?” She glanced behind herself, looking at you with lips pursed. She stopped walking and lowered herself to your height, her smile was forced.
“Mommy can only afford a party room for us today sweetheart, we can come back another time for all that, okay?” You knew there was something up with her the second you walked through the doors. You wanted to cry, the feeling bubbling up in your chest, but you kept it down, looking up at her with a watery smile. She patted your head before continuing on.
It felt like a long time before you got to where you needed to go, the hallways feeling strange to walk through as less and less people were spotted. At least you got to take a glance at the Fazcade, that place was bustling with life. But it only made you more upset. You had really wanted to see Freddy perform on stage, or talk to Chica or Roxy, even Monty for Pete's sake! At least you had a chance to see one animatronic today.. Hopefully. It wasn't your favorite, or even one of the originals, like Freddy or Chica, but it was something.
After watching Mom fuss, confused with her surroundings and taking wrong turn after wrong turn, she finally led you into Kid's Cove, and past that, the Superstar Daycare. The lights were way too bright, and you had to squint at first to see where Mom was even dragging you.
She opened a door, pushing you through. A chorus of voices rang out, saying ‘Happy Birthday!’ and all you could do was blink and stare. All your classmates and what looked to be some of their siblings and their parents were in this cramped room, a cake on the table, party hats on their heads, and balloons stuck to the ceiling. At least the table cloth was your favorite color, that's the only good part about what's happening right now.
You looked at your mother, who was busy talking to one of the parents. If looks could kill, you would've definitely tried harder to glare at her.
Sighing in defeat, you walked to the head of the table, all the kids immediately ignoring you once you sat down. The room was so loud, kids talking, or yelling, between each other, hands slapping the table, parents whispering even though they weren't actually. Everyone can hear you guys.
The party hats looked either way too big or way too small, there was no in between. You slid on onto your head, it was just a little too tight around your chin, but you didn't care much. The cake on the middle of the table looked to be lemon flavored. Who eats lemon flavored cakes? The frosting was purple too, it looked… unappetizing.
It didn't take long for Mom to clap her hands together, the room hushing to silence. The headache you were starting to get dulled significantly.
“Alright everyone, it's my daughter's birthday today, and so we're gonna sing happy birthday and let her blow out the candles!” You forced a smile when some kids looked your way. No way. She didn't actually forget, did she? You groaned as she lit the candles, sinking into your chair just a little bit. She brought the cake over to you and everyone sang that embarrassing song, but you played along, blowing out the candles, and smiling at everyone.
Once all the slices of cake were handed out, you waved your mom over, frowning, a crease in your eyebrows.
“Mom, I'm not.. I don't… I'm not a girl.” Her smile faltered, but she just forced it back on, her fingernails digging lightly into your forearm. You shouldn't have said anything, not here, not now. You should've just smiled and ate your cake-
“Sorry dear, I don't think so. I didn't give birth to any boys.” She let go of your arm, small indents left there as she walked away, going back to talking with some of the other parents.
Tears bubbled to the surface as you poked at your cake. Everything was too loud, too bright, and the kids didn't care, the adults didn't care, and your mom…
You pushed the plate backwards and slid out of your chair, running to the door and sliding out. You didn't even hear anyone yell your name. Nobody chased after you. That just made you feel worse.
You ran and ran until you saw two large doors, tears falling quickly down your face. They opened with ease when you leaned on them, and you nearly fell flat on your face if it wasn't for two orange hands wrapping under your armpits. Those hands lifted you up, and you looked at the strange thing in front of you.
A circular mask stared at you, its white eyes slightly unnerving, its smile more so. It had orange rays poking out of its face, which tilted left and right, staring right at you.
“New friend! Welcome, welcome! Is this your first time here? Where are your parents?” It looked behind you and then back at you, setting you down as your lip quivered. You had almost forgotten all about the event leading up to this. Almost.
You sniffled loudly, staring at the robot that looked like the sun. He had long pants with red and gold stripes, frilly ribbons sitting around his waist. Those same ribbons covered his wrists and had bells tied to them. And his shoes curled a bit at the toe, making it seem like he had pointy feet.
“My daddy doesn't love me anymore, and my mommy hates me..” The tears flowed freely as he crouched down to your level. He was quite tall. His long fingers tapped at the floor, seemingly unsure of what to say at first or what to do.
He picked you back up, cradling you in his arms, hushing you as you cried.
“Oh, friend, I'm sure that's not true! Are you just lost?” He brought you over to an area that had play mats and giant blocks, it looked like a half finished fort. Maybe he was building that before you burst through the doors.
“It's my birthday, and I haven't seen Daddy in a long time.. and mommy invited all my classmates when I told her I didn't want to spend my birthday with anyone.. I just wanted to have a good day… I wanted to see a robot..” The tears had stopped, but the heavy feeling in your chest hadn't. He set you down on one of the blocks, stepping away and bending at odd angles. It confused you, but after a minute, you started laughing.
“I'm glad you found me then Sunshine! I'm..” He looked at himself, frills and all, and shook his hands out spinning his faceplate and shrinking his rays in and out. “A robot!” You couldn't help but giggle, hands clapping together.
Yeah.. he was a robot. A really funny one. Creepy too, but he couldn't do much about how he looked.. Neither could you.
“Are you the sun?” He nodded, clasping his hands together, the long fingers intertwining. He was now sitting on the ground in front of you, staring up at you, his sun rays retracting slightly a few times before answering. “Yes, yes! I am Mister Sun! Or Sunny, or just Sun! Oh, the kids call me so many wonderful things!” He nods excitedly. It almost seemed like he could jump up at any moment like a wound up spring.
“I wish my mom didn't hate me..” You stared solemnly at the floor, not paying attention to what the animatronic in front of you was doing. After a while, you looked up, no longer stuck in your thoughts. He had a closed hand outstretched to you, and you slid your own tiny hands underneath his, and he dropped something into them. You pulled it closer, his fingers tapping on his knees nervously as you looked at the item in your hand curiously.
It was a bracelet. It had yellow and red beads on it with a cute little sun charm on it. Sliding the thing onto your wrist, you almost started crying again, but your mom burst through the same doors you did, looking furious. You couldn't hear all the words she was saying as Sun stood up and raced towards her. He was fast. She looked startled as she started yelling obscenities at the poor guy, his rays shrinking as he held one hand on his hip, the other wagging at her. You didn't know what else to do except run up to her.
“Mommy! Stop yelling! You're going to get us in trouble!” She grabbed your wrist, hard, and placed you behind her.
“How dare you encourage this behavior! My daughter doesn't belong in this shit hole!” You kicked at the floor, shrinking in on yourself. You wanted to curl up into a ball and cry.
“Come on, we're going home now. The party is over.” She had a gift bag in her other hand that you hadn't noticed before. She dragged you away, the pain in your wrist shooting up your arm. You turned to look at Sun, waving sadly at him. He just waved back, looking much sadder than he did before.
“God, this place is a nightmare. Do you know how much money I spent for us to even get in here, let alone get that cake and rent out that party room?” She was walking way too fast.
“And then you just ran out, without telling anyone! You made me look like a bad mother! Am I a bad mother? Tell me!” She stopped, staring down at you. She was angry.
“I…” She shook her head, continuing to walk at a pace you could just barely keep up with.
“When we get home, you're going straight to your room. No dinner tonight.” All you could do was mutter ‘yes mom’ as she raced out the doors with you behind her.
Later that night, after the long and quiet car drive, you were put into your room like Mom said she'd do, and you just cried. Cried when taking the posters you had up of your favorite animatronics, cried as you rested your face against your stained pillow, and cried as you stared at the mark your mother left on your wrist. It was faintly bruised and red.
You never wanted to feel like this ever again.
You never were going to.