Pop Goes the Balloon

"It is I, The Avenger!"

It was just a burst pipe, hardly anything to stress over. But, deciding to humour Chica's statement about a 'hero' you wait. She could not have made it anymore obvious anyhow.

With Chica gone that left you alone in the kitchen. Though the muffins looked delicious you try to stave off the temptation. Checking Chica's location on the watch, she was just outside the bakery not moving much.

If those muffins really were for Bonnie, he would've appreciated you not eating them...though on the other hand if you tested them and said they were great he would love that too...He really loved seeing food themed after him. Sodas, cakes, candies and more. After his 'revival' it was one of the first things he saw fit to do.

He was big on branding. After being 'out of commission' for so long he wanted to re-stake his 'claim on the plex', something Freddy and Chica enthusiastically helped with.

Noticing Chica had left the fridge open you go to close it, that sweet scent of rich blueberry and brown sugar hitting your nostrils. Maybe just one bite wouldn't hurt. You start to reach for the cooling muffins and-

"Ah! Citizen!" A feminine-trying-to-sound-manly voice called out. "You can't have those! They aren't for you."

Startled, you turn, seeing an animatronic, one with a strangely similar size, demeanour and appearance another animatronic who was just here. Of course it wasn't exactly her.

She held two spotlights in either of her arms.

"Just a second, citizen." The animatronic said as she bent down and placed both spotlights behind her, pointed at her. With a flick of the switch on each they came alive, partially blinding you but giving her complete illumination.

"It is I, The Avenger!" She declared, posing heroically.

Image: https://www.deviantart.com/odaocer/art/1122532777

'The Avenger' was one of the animatronics, that much was clear. Built of metal, gears and electronics she stood tall. Though while most of the animatronics' 'clothing' were just coloured pieces of their body, the Avenger wore actual clothing.

Up top she wore a burgundy-coloured mask, a gold outline around her eyes and around the mask to signify goggles. Her 'tufts of hair' were done up in the same gold-colour.

She wore shoulder pads, each pad with a series of plastic padding that curved and stretched. To your understanding they were supposed to be feathers though being gold-coloured looked more like she glued a bunch of bananas to her shoulders.

She wore a long-sleaved sweatshirt covered in the same burgundy/gold mixture, a gold line down each arm, the sleaves and a band around her left arm. On front and displayed in a bright yellow sewn on her chest was her symbol.

An eagle, wings spread out, looking particularly pissed. It was clearly supposed to represent her, though looked more like she stole it from a flag. Something about it was distinctly...European.

The sweater looked a little too small for her and where it would have exposed her midsection, a gold belt, gleaming in the light covered the exposure. A yellow jewel in the centre of the belt glowed too, matching her eyes.

She wore sweatpants coloured similarly. Thanks to the lines of gold going right down each leg-side it looked more like trackpants and knowing her, that might've been intentional. Gold band around the right leg, opposite to that of the band on the right.

Her feet were stylized to appear as bird's feet, complete with three toes like birds had talons. The only part of her clothing that didn't match that Burgundian pattern were the black fingerless gloves she wore on each hand.

With all she wore it concealed her identity well. If there were any other bird-themed animatronics in the plex besides you-know-who you could have been fooled.

Now looking at it head on you realize it was actually a modified wingsuit. The same kind people would jump out of planes and glide with. It even had wings forming an arc from her belly to elbow. Parts of her clothing sparkled, as if lightly touched by glitter.

She referred to herself as The Avenger, Hero of the Plex. Woe to all evildoers and villains! You knew she often spoke a longer monologue she would introduce herself with but didn't today. What else was known was that nobody knew what her secret identity was...officially. Pretty much all the employees knew who it was. The costume, while it might have fooled children, and the other animatronics did little to hide her form. Even her speech sounded the same, even if she tried to hide that.

It was just too obvious. Not to even mention there was only one animatronic who even was 'bird-like'. It wasn't like the animatronics looked similar to each other either. Well except maybe Bonnie and Freddy though you knew better than to mention that.

The Avenger specified that she was an eagle, not a chicken. 'Any similarities to other avian-themed animatronics were puuurrrely coincidental'. She had said.

You weren't sure if this were her own decision or if she developed a whole other personality like the daycare attendants did. You hoped it was just a decision. The last thing the plex needed were more split personalities.

"Uh, hey, Chi-Avenger."

"Yes that's right! It is I! The Avenger! Not Chica! She's off...helping Freddy out! But nevermind that. I heard you need help! Well broken pipes are my specialty!"

"Right, well, uh, let's go then."

"Yes! Let's go! Chica told me you helped fix her arms. That was very kind of you! It is only right I should help you!"

This was your first official meeting with 'The Avenger' though you knew she had been 'active' for some time. You'd seen the posters sloppily placed around. Most of the staff had seen it too.

The Eagle Avenger! Keeping the plex safe one baddie at a time!

To your knowledge this wasn't planned, nor did management know anything about it. Nay, this was something she and possibly some employees plotted. All of a sudden customers started to hear about a superhero in the plex righting wrongs, teaching kids about fire safety and generally helping out around the place.

And each time Chica would vanish just before the Avenger would show up to save the day. From what you heard the Rep loved the idea instantly, encouraging any employees to let her do her thing. He added that it provided enrichment as well. Well, figuring 'no-harm-no-fowl', you play along.

With a nod you lead the Avenger down a maintenance room, following your watch as it directed you. You'd seen the Avenger from afar but never really spoke to her. There were always other things going on in the plex. This was the first time you were alone with her.

"Have you, or, er Chica heard anything about this pipe?"

"Yes I have. We haven't been able to get hot water here for a few days." The Avenger said, voice softening. While she acted into the role well after conversing a bit, she would just drop the 'macho-voice' forgetting she needed to sound that way.

"How was your, er, vacation? You know, you're a bit like me. Helping the helpless, animating the animatronics. Righting wrongs!"

"Just for a few days, had to work through some things."

"Well, a hero can never rest! There are always people to be saved!" The Avenger announced, putting on the machismo voice again. You weren't sure where she got the costume, but man did, she play into it. From what you heard The Avenger was the only 'superhero' running around. The others weren't that interested in suiting up. Though thinking on it you could've easily seen Monty rocking a cape and goggles, acting as some kind of villain. Come to think of it, this started after Halloween.

You and the Avenger had long left the kitchen, currently traversing the maintenance halls. Long concrete tunnels only interspersed with unlabeled doors, piss poor lighting and random discarded bric-a-brac from outside.

These tunnels contained no theming, nothing to make it the least bit appealing. The kitchen, while hidden from public view at least at had some Fazbear-related objects. Not even the Avenger had bothered putting up posters here. The only Fazbear-themed things around were occasional bins for scrap or garbage with Freddy's silhouette as a logo on them, triangle around the silhouette.

"Thanks for coming with me...Avenger." You catch yourself from revealing the Avenger's secret identity.

"Anytime, citizen!" The Avenger replied happily.

There were even some trash cans stylized after the various band members, though long since unused. Even a trashcan stylized after Freddy. At least, you thought so, it looked nothing like him. Just a strange, oversized bear trash can with a huge black nose that looked better suited for a park than a plex.

The pipe was close now.

"So, what's you're origin story, anyways?" You ask.

"Origin story?" The avenger stopped.

"Like where you came from, how you got your powers, you know?"

"Oh, o-origin story. Well, that's a secret right now but I'll tell you one day!" She declared.

The tunnel maze was also used to transport liquid and cooling across the plex. Large pipes lined the walls containing water, grease, oil or some other liquid. Various numbers were emblazoned on, probably indicating what they contained.

Darker down here, the only people that actually traversed these tunnels were engineers. The tunnels ensnared the whole plex, effectively acting as a way to bypass everything. With your flashlight on your phone and the Avenger's glowing yellow eyes shining as spotlights on the ground as she walked. The ceiling was completely shrouded in darkness, no semblance of anything that lurked above.

It didn't help that the tunnels were wide enough to fit a car in as well, so while you and The Avenger marched through it, light only reached due in front, leaving the side walls occasionally cloaked in black.

The tunnels were silent except for each clunky step of the Avenger behind you. She watched you, making sure you didn't leave her vision. So, when you stepped over a rock, she didn't notice, bumping into it awkwardly and mis-stepping, catching herself.

You flinch, her misstep sounding like another set of steps.

"No need to be scared citizen! We are perfectly safe. I do not detect anyone around." She said quickly.

This was the location. Glancing up you see it. Something was clearly wrong with the pipe. Steam emerged out of it as hot water tried to course through. Didn't appear to be a blockage, just that some of the bolts were loose and the pipe lost its connection.

A few droplets were dripping out the pipe, evaporating into vapor as soon as they hit the cooler ground. Suffice to put, it looked too hot to touch. You wonder how they had been working with no hot water for the past week? Were they just boiling water before they used it?

Looking at it high up made you realize you probably should have brought a ladder. Oh well, at least there was a giant eagle with you to help.

"It probably just needs some tightening." On the ground you find a loose bolt, more evidence to support the theory. With all the oddities that had happened in the Plex, your first assumption was that this was foul play. But, looking at it, at least didn't appear intentional, likely just the result of someone skimping on setup. You take a wrench out of your bag. "Hey Ch-Avenger." You catch yourself again. "You think you could lift me up?"

"Certainly!"

Bending her knees slightly she put both gloved hands in front, ready for you to step on. Her glowing yellow gaze contrasted bright against the dark of the tunnel. Chica always had blue eyes and seeing that she'd somehow changed it on her own was impressive. Especially if she did it herself. Maybe they were somehow separate animatronics?

You step up uneasily, the Avenger easily lifting you off the ground, almost hitting your head on the pipe. Holding the bolt with the wrench you start to screw it in hoping your force could re-align the pipes, hoping the bolt would catch the lower part. It looked to succeed at first, getting stuck immediately after. Ignoring that one you move to other bolts, keeping a free hand on a cold wall just incase. While the Avenger had no trouble holding you up it was keeping balance that proved difficult.

Indeed, it did prove difficult as after a misstep you lose balance, stepping off the Avenger's hands and falling back down. The action happened so fast you barely had time to realize it when the Avenger, acting even faster grabbed you supporting your legs with one hand, back with the other, wrench landing on the ground, breaking the relative silence.

"Do not worry citizen! I got you." The Avenger said as she placed you down.

"Th-hanks." You take a deep breath.

Bolts were in the pipe and screwed in with sufficient pressure. The issue now where that since the pipes were misaligned that the pressure would eventually warp it further. One good kick is all it would take to lock it right into place.

"You think you can knock that into place? Just needs a good push." You point to the pipe above, noting that it was misaligned.

"Of course!" The Avenger said, voice returning to a more feminine and enthusiastic charm. You were expecting her to jump and punch it, not what she proceeded to do. "Stand back, citizen." She said proudly.

With a swing of the arms back, brief bending of the knees and a leap up she swung herself back, crescent kicking the pipe into place, landing gracefully on one leg, other raised up like a flamingo would. It slammed into place, the pipe clicking into the bolts and steam disappearing immediately. That would've been worthy of a pat on the back, though you were more shocked by the sheer agility The Avenger displayed.

"H-how the hell. Since when could you move like that?"

"I know kung fu! I, uh, trained with the masters! Any thief wants a piece of the plex they'll have to go through me!" The Avenger said fiercely, pointing a thumb to her chest.

Never even minding the fact she could do such a move it was the sheer dexterity she proved, moving that hulking metallic mass of a body into something so graceful. You swear it didn't even sound like she landed, the way she did it so carefully. Where, how would she have even learned that?

Then it hit you. A little after Halloween, Chica came to you with a strange request. She had a VCR that wanted fixed. You were busy at the time with Freddy and told her you'd get to it, forgetting you promised her. It didn't seem that weird at time since Monty asked for one too. Later on, she asked for a TV which you helped set up though didn't make the connection. From what you recall, some employee donated it to her. Had she been hiding that from you? Or you just didn't spend as much time with Chica as you thought.

Looking at the Avenger posing you realize that should she ever turn she would instantly become one of, if not the most dangerous animatronic in the Plex.

With the pipe fixed you mark it off on your phone, closing the ticket.

"So, what now?"

"Let's head back to the bakery. I'll see what else there is to do."

"That sounds like a plan!" The Avenger declared practically leading your back. As the two of you walked you could tell something was on the Avenger's mind. She was walking with a thumb on her chin, deep in thought.

"Wait!" The Avenger declared, grabbing your arm in a vice grip. Just at a point where the path split you saw something run past. Silent as it moved you swore you heard a giggle echo as it ran by. You couldn't even make out what it was, only seeing fat amorphous shadow. Had you not been with the Avenger you would have freaked out, though the lack of movement was also because her grip did not allow you.

"Are you alright citizen?" The Avenger asked.

"I, uh, yeah, what was that?"

"I do not know." She said solemnly. "But it would be best if we left from here."

"Yeah. Let's."

There was one thing you were curious about, even if the question was better suited for Chica. "Hey, Avenger. Do you know anything about Chica leaving, well, a body in my office?" You ask, disregarding how morbid that just sounded.

"Oh, that? Yeah, well I, uh, actually found it. I think you could use it for parts."

"Where?"

"Well, you know, here and there." She said, poorly hiding the fact she was hiding something.

"...Avenger. Where did you find it. You know you can tell me, right?"

"...Fine. I was digging in my area and kind of busted down a wall"

Oh, that's why she didn't wanna say. The Facility Manager was going to be pissed. "You won't tell anyone right?" The Avenger asked. "From one hero to another."

You chuckle. "Fine, I won't say anything. But they are eventually going to find out you know."

"...Yeah. But I'll come up with a plan. I'm gonna decorate it! Just as soon as I work out some other things." The Avenger added, mumbling at the end.

Pace quickening you and the Avenger moved back through the tunnel maze, a combination of your phone and her eyes lighting the way. But despite the urgency you found yourself under, the Avenger did not seem alarmed. First you thought it was because she so confident, though looking at her you could tell she was lost in thought again, now mumbling to herself.

"Origin story. Origin story." She said quietly.

"Hm?"

"Hey, (Y/N) what do you think my origin story is-like c-can you guess what it is?" An obvious ploy to get you come up with it you just go direct.

"C'mon, that's something you gotta come up with."

"Well, I mean-"

"Look. Why do you want to help the Plex? What made you want to become a superhero? How did you get so good at Kung fu? Just gotta throw it together."

"It's a job that someone has to do. For the greater good." The Avenger said.

"Well, there you have it. Saw all the bad stuff, decided to be a light in the darkness or something. As for why the Avenger, how you learned kung fu, well you gotta figure that out. I mean, you did say you trained with the masters right? I'm sure that's somewhat true."

"Hmm." She mumbled, thinking it over.

You continued to walk with the avenger, occasionally checking your phone. Anxiety subsiding from the earlier creature you just instead planned your night. There were still a few jobs left you could do, some of which were in the raceway. As you returned to the bakery you decided to go see Roxanne, the Avenger eagerly tagging along.

She hadn't said much, no doubt still thinking deeply about her origin story. As you exited the bakery and entered the hall her gaze was drawn to some trash cans. Themed after the various band members they all stood beside each other; the one designed after Chica especially meant for compost/organic material. You'd spent enough time with a certain chicken-themed animatronic to know that look. "Excuse me for one second, citizen." The Avenger declared. Perhaps she was getting a little too familiar with you.

"What are you doing?" You ask, arms crossed.

"A superhero has to eat." She said sternly.

Arms still crossed you weren't phased. "Uh-huh. You know if I didn't know better, I think I know another animatronic who likes eating garbage. Wouldn't want others to you know, think you're like a certain chicken, right?"

"B-but she doesn't eat garbage anymore!" The Avenger protested. "Me, well, sometimes just a bite but I'm not like her!"

You kept a stern face, not budging. "No means no."

"Well, I helped you earlier. Can't I just have a bite? There's a whole discarded cake in here!" The Avenger asked, voice returning to her usual high tone.

Guess all that 'helping for the greater good' was just mum. As cynical as the idea this 'superhero' gig was nothing more than a ploy to go back to her old habits you knew she wouldn't scheme something like that. Too much work.

You did feel you owed her, though you also knew 'garbage' was an addiction she was trying to quit. When it came to regular food you allowed a bit of leeway, but garbage was a no-no. Especially when she was wearing a pristine outfit like that.

"You'll dirty your costume." You shot back.

"But it's all clean in here. There's practically no other garbage-it would just like eating regular food. You don't want this food to go to waste, don't you?"

"No buts. The Avenger shouldn't eat garbage." Even if she was a superhero you weren't going to let her guilt you into this.

"...Argh." The Avenger grumbled and paused for a second. "Ah, poo."

The Avenger got up and leaving the trash can walked back to you only to stop again, taking one last longing look at the trash can.

"Oh! I just remembered Chica forgot about the muffins for Bonnie! Sorry citizen! I'll have to remind her. I'll join you later. You should just head to Roxanne now." The Avenger said, running off towards the bakery. While you weren't the type to fall for such tricks, the slick smile she gave as she ran off only tipped you further.

How much of that was her trying to sneak by you or genuine concern about the muffins you weren't sure. That costume looked expensive too. Even if she were going to change out of it someone would have to clean her. And when Chica ate garbage would just fall out. With that costume out no doubt things would get stained badly. Either way you weren't going to let her get out so easily. Plus, letting her relapse would be a bad idea. She was the 'tastemaker' of the plex, something that was only bestowed on her when she got her 'habits' under control. You weren't going to let her spiral, especially since you were the 'lead technician'. Chica was your responsibility.

You send off a text to Bonnie, saying hello but also informing him that Chica had something for him. He replies instantly that he's excited and, on his way, telling you to stick around as well. You make for the trash can, lifting the lid off and tossing it aside. Grabbing both sides of the trash bag you lift it out. Thankfully it didn't smell of anything and wasn't that full. With a knot you heave it over your back and make off with it like a sack of gold.

Not much time left you spot one of the cleaning robots moves around. With a whistle and a shake of the bag it wheels by, taking the trash from you and at once replacing the trash can bag. Emitting a few beeps it rolls off, trash bag in hand. Before it could head towards the Cakery and practically hand-deliver it to Chica you catch it. Lifting it off the ground you turn it around, pushing it in the direction opposite.

The plex had various robots used for cleaning and general maintenance. Though they weren't perfect by any means they definitely made the cleaning crew's job easier. You just hoped that they would dispose of the trash somewhere Chica wouldn't get and hopefully not run into her. You watch as the robot instead towards Monty's area, vanishing into the green haze his safari contained. Yep, no way Chica would be going after it.

Unlike the band members and other special animatronics these were far less sophisticated. All their routines were programmed in, only capable of binary thought and primitive, if any reasoning. The whistle-on-command was something you added to help make getting their attention easier.

Now alone in the hall you look around. No sign of Bonnie or any of the other band members. Just you and a bunch of security robots all across the hall, flashlights in hand.

When Chica would find out what you did, she would be pissed. You really didn't want to be around for that, hoping at least Bonnie would placate her.

With a bounce in your step and just a little hurry you leave the hall, returning once again to the main entrance.

Roxanne's Raceway was just down the hall and past the Fazpad Cafe. With how much work she'd been putting into her own area there was bound to be much to help with. The main entrance was just below, symbolized by a giant (fake) golden statue of Freddy holding a microphone.

You barely make it past the cafe before a text goes off on your watch. And then another.

You take a look. It was from Chica.

'THAT WASNT FAIR (Y/N)'

The next chapter will be called One Pissed Off Bird.