Chapter 6

Mike intensely stared at the frame of his laptop's keyboard. It should be tightly attached to his most used electronic device, but it isn't.

"I could just take this to the shop. I can afford to do that now…" he rationalized.

A solemn sigh brushed past his lips as he glanced out his window. The sun was setting and the orange sky was getting darker and darker as it descended.

"Not too long now… It'll soon be time for my shift," he thought aloud. Mike looked back down at his laptop. "Let's see what can be done until then…"

Meanwhile, Charlie stared intensely at her sketchbook, wondering what else she could add to her drawing.

"Charlie…" the young manager lowered her sketchpad as she curiously glanced up at Mangle. The timid fox's tail swept across the stage as she patiently waited for a response.

"What's up, Mangle?" Charlie finally answered.

"Um…" Mangle's cheeks grew bright red as she found maintaining eye contact difficult. "I was just wondering…"

"Wondering…?"

"…What do you think of the night guard?"

A look of surprise landed on Charlie's face. "What do I think? Well…"

The young manager scratched her head, wondering how to answer that question.

"I mean he's been here for a couple of days now. He's been on the receiving end of superhuman strength and is well aware that he's being kept in the dark," she replied. "All that and he's still here, so that's impressive."

"That's all you think about him?" Mangle wondered.

"Um, he also offered me cookies and that was before he knew I was the manager, so I know he wasn't trying to bribe me. Honestly, he seems somewhat emotionally stonewalled, except when Spring-Bonnies's around, but he overall seems like a… umm… Casual gentleman.

"'Casual gentleman'?"

"Like the stereotypical gentleman but in a more casual setting. He's a somewhat emotionally withdrawn casual gentleman is the impression I have so far."

"Oh…"

"But why are you asking me anyway? Wouldn't you and the others have more to go off of than me?"

"I was just curious. That's all."

"Still a bit anxious?"

"A little…"

Charlie chuckled and ruffled Mangle's hair. "Don't sweat it, Mangle. You just need more time to get used to him. Honestly, I'd be worried if you've weren't still a bit anxious."

"Really?" Mangle said, surprised.

Really," Charlie assured her.

Later that night, the two joined Freddy, Chica and Spring-Bonnie in watching Bonnie and BB compete on one of the former's favorite arcade game.

"Rabbit-punch combo!" Bonnie announced as she finished inputting her favorite combo. "Swift-hare kick! Long-Haired jump and…!"

Bonnie rapidly mashed every button on her side of the machine and happily announced. "Fatalitity!"

"No!" BB cried. "My character was so young and handsome!"

Overcome with grief over her loss, BB reached for Bonnie's left hand and slid it across her neck.

"Fatality," she said in a low, droning voice before suddenly collapsing to the ground.

Before anyone could say a word, BB just as suddenly appeared in front of Bonnie, now wearing a pair of glasses and a fedora. With a microphone in hand, she asked, "Bonnie, how does it feel to continue your marvelous winning streak as the overall fighting arcade champion of the gang?"

"Well, uh, it's a real thrill to go head to head against an actual opponent than the computer," Bonnie answered.

"Fascinating," BB then turned her attention to where she initially collapsed. "And BB, how did it feel to go against the reigning champion of arcade fighters?"

The playful animatronic quickly returned to her previous position, removing her fedora and glasses in the process. "It was too much. As soon as she used the Rabbit-punch combo, I knew it was over… What was I thinking? How could I have possibly thought I could win against her infamous technique?!"

BB quickly jumped back on her feet and into her reporter outfit. "You seem to be feeling down on yourself. Anyway, once again, Bonnie the titanic blue rabbit has vanquished all and any competition that has come her way. This Reporter Balloon Babe, signing off."

Removing her guise for the final time, BB turned her attention Bonnie. "By the way, Champ, what's that?"

"What's what?" Bonnie questioned as she looked around puzzled.

"Up there," BB instructed as she pointed to the ceiling.

"Up?" Bonnie said as she looked up.

"Hey…" the blue bunny's attention was drawn back to BB as she looked past her. "I thought we were expecting the Night Guard. What's a doctor doing here?"

"D-?" Bonnie's eyes widened upon realizing what she was about to say. "I'm not Bugs Bunny!"

"Aww! So close…" BB lamented. "I shall get you or Spring Bon-Bon to say the immortal phrase of the most famous cartoon bunny!"

With that powerful declaration, BB ran out of the room.

"She's never going to quit, is she?" Spring-Bonnie laughed.

"Maybe you two should just say it so she won't bring it up anymore," Mangle suggested.

"Mm…" Bonnie pondered that suggestion. After giving it a full minute of consideration, she finally shook her head. "No, that's the one thing I refuse to relent on."

Freddy glanced up at the clock; every time the second hand moved filled her with curiosity and worry. "Hey, Charlie, have you heard anything from the Night Guard yet?"

"Absolutely nothing," Charlie answered.

"I wonder if he's sick," Bonnie wondered aloud.

"Sick? But I didn't get to spend any time with him over the past few days…" Spring-Bonnie lamented. "Do I really have to wait another?"

"Well, you did willingly give up your latest chance for selfless reasons," Freddy pointed out in an attempt to console the saddened golden rabbit. "Maybe something good will happen for that selflessness."

"You think?" Spring-Bonnie questioned.

"For all we know, something good could happen really soon," Chica added.

As if on cue, Mike walked in. "Sorry, I'm late."

"Like that," Chica smiled.

"By the way, I just saw BB singing "What's Up, Doc" from the Bugs Bunny theater cartoon: What's up, Doc? Was there a Bugs Bunny moment just recently?" Mike asked.

One look at Mike was all it took for Spring-Bonnie to jump out of her seat and hug him.

"You're not sick!" she beamed as she squeezed him tighter. "You're not sick."

"S-Sick?" the tardy night guard couldn't help but be puzzled over such an assumption.

But he was not alone in that feeling. Freddy also found herself puzzled as she tried to understand how Mike arrived at such a perfect time. "Wow."

"The wrong interpretation of Karma works in mysterious ways," Charlie explained.

"C-Charlie, I wanted to apologize for being late," Mike apologized.

"Car issues?" she guessed.

"Actually… I don't have a car. It was repossessed before you hired me and the buses weren't running tonight."

"You mean you came here on foot?" Bonnie asked. "At night? By yourself?"

"It was my only choice," Mike replied.

"That's really admirable, Night Guard," Freddy complimented.

"Weren't you worried about being jumped by a gang?" Bonnie queried.

"Not really. Though I did make sure to avoid any particularly shadowy areas," Mike answered.

Suddenly, Charlie's phone started to ring. "Wonder who it i-? AH!"

Shocked by what she saw, Charlie quickly released her grip, letting gravity guide her phone to the floor.

"It's the boss!" she shrieked.

"Henry?!" the girls exclaimed.

"Henry?" Mike wondered aloud.

"He's the guy who created us," Chica explained. "And the only guy that can freak Charlie out."

"Just Charlie?" Mike questioned as he observed the nervous expressions most of the girls in the room sported.

"Well… He usually only calls around this time when it's bad…" Bonnie nervously explained.

"Like, say, one of the animatronics socked a patron across the room," Freddy added with red cheeks.

"Or when it was about what I almost did…" Mangle solemnly admitted.

"No, those weren't bad," Charlie insisted. "This, what he's calling about now, is bad and I really don't want to go through that conversation here with…"

Charlie briefly glanced at Mike. She knew it would be an insult to try and cover up what she was about to say. "…With you here."

"But Charlie, you can't not answer him. It'll look really suspicious," Freddy pointed out.

"Maybe I can rush him off the phone."

"That'll seem even more suspicious."

The two continued to debate until they noticed a hand reach down and answer the call.

"Hello?" Spring-Bonnie said.

"Spring-Bonnie?!" the girls yelled in their heads.

"Oh hey, Henry," Spring-Bonnie cheerfully responded. "How's life?"

"…"

"Me? Oh, I'm doing fine. Just rotting away in a closet with Fredbear; No longer able to interact with customers or be loved like the others."

"…"

"Why am I answering instead of Charlie?" Spring-Bonnie curiously glanced at Charlie. Refusing to say a word, she crossed her arms in the shape of an x. "She left her phone here."

"…"

"It's not a coincidence. A lot of people lose their phones like that. Even the new Night Guard would have lost it on his second night if BB didn't find it."

"…"

"You're calling because you wanted to know about the new Night Guard?"

"…"

"No, Charlie isn't paying herself again. There really is a new shining knight to guard us in the night that's been here this long."

"…"

"Really."

"…"

Spring-Bonnie briefly glanced at Mike before returning to the conversation. "He's really cute."

"…"

"But he is."

"…"

"Actually, he disappeared when I wasn't looking."

"…"

"Really."

"…"

"You want to talk to him?"

"No," Charlie whispered as she shook her head.

"He's kinda unavailable right now," Spring-Bonnie said.

"…"

"He's not slacking off. Far from it actually. He's in the middle of a sword fight with Foxy. If I distract him, you may end up getting sued."

"…"

"There's really hazard's pay?"

"…"

"That's also why night guards are paid so much?"

"…"

"I thought it was a way to make sure they don't tell the world."

"…"

"I feel I should be insulted."

"…"

"Well, I did kinda squeeze him too hard the other night… But he was a lot more nice about it."

"…"

"Hey, he did the disappearing thing before that happened."

"…"

"I'm pretty human… esque. The only things that aren't humanish are my broken ears and bunny nose."

"…"

"I doubt he cares about that."

"…"

Spring-Bonnie once again glanced at Mike. "You know if you're worried about hazards, maybe you bump up the Night Guard's salary."

"…"

"True, but you're the one that made a big deal about it."

"…"

"You could use the money you're saving on Fredbear and Spring-Bonnie maintenance and equipment."

"…"

"Could have at least let us keep our stage like Mangle."

"…"

"Maybe some bean-bag chairs, a TV and some better reading entertainment."

"…"

"Sleeping all the time is just boring."

"…"

"Uh-huh."

"…"

"Already knows where the spare furniture is."

"…"

"Uh-huh."

"…"

"Uh-huh."

"…"

"Uh-huh."

"…"

"Alright, I'll let her know you called."

"…"

"Pleasant dreams, Henry."

Once the call ended, Spring-Bonnie placed the phone on the table and pouted.

"Forgive me if this is a dumb question, but what just happened?" Mike asked.

"That is a good question that I'm sure the others will answer the moment I'm gone," Charlie answered as she walked past Mike.

"You're not going to take your phone with you?"

"Nope, if he calls back then it's going to be really suspicious if they don't answer. 'night," With a wave goodbye, Charlie rushed out of the room.

"I know I haven't worked here long, but I never thought I would see Charlie so unbalanced like that," Mike noted. "Also, is it really okay for her to avoid her boss like that?"

"Actually, both observation and question have a single link," Freddy answered.

"They do?" Mike was surprised to hear that.

"Mm-hmm," Chica nodded. "Henry's Charlie's father."

"Father, huh?" Mike said as if he already knew that.

"Huh? You're not fazed by that?" Bonnie marveled.

"Quite honestly, that actually explains a lot," Mike answered. "Judging from what I've just witnessed, he doesn't seem to be a popular figure here."

"Well, we can't really speak for Charlie, but for us it's mostly because he's really distant," Bonnie explained. She then leaned over to Mike's left ear and whispered, "Not to mention… I think it's clear why Spring Bon-Bon might be a little mad at him."

"I'm not a little mad…" Spring-Bonnie said as she maintained her puffed cheeks.

"It's okay to be a little mad, you know," Freddy gently placed her hand on Spring-Bonnie's left shoulder as she tried to console her.

"I'm not a little mad…" Spring-Bonnie solemnly repeated.

Watching this filled Mike with caused a familiar feeling to resurface within him, a feeling that would remain with him for the rest of his shift.

At the beginning of his next shift…

"No way!" Spring-Bonnie's eyes sparkled with joy as they beheld what Mike had brought her. "Beanbag chairs and new books?"

"Forgive me; I didn't really know what you like. I just thought it would be better than nothing," Mike explained.

Suddenly, Spring-Bonnie wrapped her arms around him. "Not only are you cutest night guard, you're the best night guard ever!"

Such a genuine compliment was all it took to deprive Mike of his vocabulary. Just like the other nights, it felt strange to be complimented. He was so lost that he was unable to notice a pair of white ears ducking behind a nearby corner.

Later, Mike walked into his office and slumped into his chair.

"Night Guard…" he looked up and noticed Mangle standing next to him.

"Yes, Mangle?" Mike replied.

"Do you think you can come to my cove for a moment?" she asked.