Chapter Text
Monthly check ups for the main animatronics were routine when the Pizzaplex first opened. During training everything was running smoothly- even afterwards! You stood in the backround while your boss, and trainer, explained what he was doing to each animatronic and finished the routine on schedule. The man goes on vacation then the complaints rolled in and seemed nonstop ever since.
Everything just had to go to shit while he was gone.
Chica is eating garbage, Roxanne pulls her hair out and Monty- ugh, Monty- is destroying his room every night. His attendant, Tom, called it a tempter tantrum!
After finishing his band mates repairs and you finally got to the gators room, you were less concerned about the room itself. Focusing more on the very expensive claws he managed to chip. It was ruining rehearsal, Tom said, the bass wouldn’t hum properly. It would take two weeks for the back up claws to come in once you ordered them but you would be able to make a patch for the superstar.
Monty was speechless the entire trip over to parts and services. While the gator seethed in silence, his attendant ranged about how annoying it was to watch him. Tom mansplained how to do your job, what to look for and how you should be filing complaints to the bosses about Montgomery Gator if this kept up. The animatronic must have seen your eye twitch because his anger subsided and turned into curiosity.
“Y’know-“ You started but Tom cut you off for the millionth time since the elevator started to go down.
“And be sure to mention-“
“I’ll be very thorough in my report!” You snapped, service smile stuck on your face while the venom of your words sunk in, “Maybe you should take this time to go on a break while you wait for Mr. Montgomery. I’ll escort him back to his green room when we’re finished.”
Tom stuttered a response when he realized both you and his animatronic had left the elevator, doors closing him in.
“I can almost understand why you go berserk every day! That guy is insufferable!”
“But if you ever break these claws again,” You let out a frustrated huff and point a finger at the gator, “I’ll rip your arms off and hide them so well, you’ll never perform again. We clear?”
“Like crystal.” Montgomery responded, red orbs wide behind his star shaped sunglasses.
No matter how much he hated that he was showing it, he couldn’t wipe the shocked expression off his face. You didn’t seem smug about it though, if you even noticed at all. This, like you, was new. No human here ever dared to talk to him like that, much, much less make that much eye contact. You spun on your heel back towards the empty room. It looked different since the last time he was here, more organized.
The alligator was scanning the room when he saw you were reaching for a box up on a high shelf. In other words, a potential accident he’d probably get blamed for. Monty moved forward and grabbed the box easily and lowered it down to your level.
“Thanks. The perks of being a 6 foot gator, huh?” You laughed at your own joke.
“‘M 8 feet.”
“Maybe with that mohawk.” You teased again and this time heard Monty laugh with you.
You lugged the heavy box over to a corner with proper lighting and summoned the robot over to you. He awkwardly sat down and gave you his hand, per your request, staring puzzled at you the entire time. After some time working you took a moment to pause, the gator took the same moment to question why he was sitting on a bench with you and not laying in the cylinder he was used to.
“I-I didn’t need- Would you be more comfortable in there?” You asked quickly.
(Skin/c) hands hovering above the box as if ready to drop everything move if Monty had said yes. He didn’t though and told you so. The gator watched as you took his hand into your lap again, not able to feel the corrections you were making.
Monty counted two hours passed since he’d sat down and let you work. You all but shoved his own claws back in his face for him to see. Shorter but definitely not chipped.. and also black? You cut him off before he could ask.
“I know, I know, I should’ve gone with purple but I figured black would go unnoticed until the new claws come in.”
You painted his nails.
“Why purple?” Monty asked, pitch alerting you of the offense.
“That’s your favorite color, duh.”
You weren’t even looking at him. You were attempting to put that stupid box back on the shelf and about to drop it on your damn head.
A whiff of fresh nail polish had you whipping your head around. Montgomery Gator was shoving the box back where he first grabbed it and staring down at you. His red eyes peering through the purple tinted glasses, an unfamiliar smirk revealing his sharp teeth. Your back uncomfortably hit the shelves behind you, (e/c) eyes wide. Scared. Just how he liked his humans.
This was only your first time meeting Monty, he should give you the full experience. Plus you were getting too friendly. Had no one told you the stories of his tremendous anger? Monty’s tail twitched in annoyance. He should personally give you your own reason to be cautious of him.
“Actually,” He practically purred, “It’s (f/c)”
Your eyes darted down to your definitely-not-work-shoes that your boss told you to never wear again. You happened to be running late this morning and instinctively grabbed your (f/c) shoes. How he noticed the glimpse of color under your baggy, work uniform from way up there was a mystery. When you looked up again, Monty was walking towards the door that lead straight to his room.
“Why didn’t ya just bring us this way in the first place? It’s faster.” The gator asked when you seemed to still be stunned in place. His tail swished behind him, he was already growing impatient.
“My boss, uh, never gave me the security badge for it. And he’s on vacation so can’t! No key” You shrugged exaggeratedly, lips twitching at one corner.
“That sounds like a lie.”
The gator stood in front of the open door, red eyes shining with delight. A shiver went down your spine and took the color in your face with it. You blinked a couple times and swallowed hard. Monty wasn’t budging. Despite the many warnings you’d be given, it didn’t prepare you for this.
You were told they were all extremely advanced AI’s that developed their own personalities through their character programming. Monty was a rock and roll kind of gator who was.. different when off stage and not around kids. Sure, all four were, but the gator animatronic was someone to be cautious around. You heard the rumors and horror stories, he was manipulative, impulsive and quick to anger. A few hours ago when you first met him he was so quiet so you thought everyone was trying to scare you!
Your boss truly didn’t give you the security badges but you didn’t ask for it before he went on vacation, either. You didn’t like dark, closed spaces and during the tour on your first day, you knew exactly where you wanted to avoid.
“Ya did say you’d escort me back.” Monty’s low voice all but dragged you back to the situation at hand.
You managed to put one foot in front of the other up the stairs and stepping into the dark hallway. Monty was eating up your fear with a smirk until it wasn’t directed at him, which just pissed him off more.
You weren’t paying attention to him again.
He growled which had you jump a bit and hurry forward to give him room to follow you. Monty couldn’t even enjoy this part now. Where the humans’ heart would thump so loud before him that he could hear it in their tiny chest. The uneasiness of having Montgomery Gator behind them, watching their every move.
You were fidgeting, stumbling even to reach the even of the hall but not because of him. Monty had assumptions piling up when you stopped and looked at him expectantly. Hopefully. Such a pitiful expression for a human to wear. The animatronic remembered only he was equipped with the clearance to open the door. Monty huffed in your face, hot breath blowing your hair back and making you wince away. He moved in front when you did, finally enjoying himself for a moment at your expense.
The door opened and Tom hurried over, ordering Monty to rush to rehearsal at the main stage. You stepped out of the tunnel the moment the alligator did, sighing deeply in relief when the door shut behind you. This did not go unnoticed by Monty. Metaphorical gears began to click in his brain. His mood worsened as he stormed away, grabbing his bass on the way out.
“You are a lifesaver, (Y/N), I’ll be sure to let Don know that you have things handled while he’s away.” Tom shook your hand gratefully.
“Oh! No problem.” You replied when he finally released you. The gators’ attendant questioned what exactly you did, how to care for the claws until the new ones arrived and when they would. You answered his many questions, inching to the door with each one.
“Oh, wait, (Y/N)?”
You were almost free. You literally had one more step to take before you were out of the rockstars room. For a brief second you debated on pretending you didn’t hear Tom, but the moment of hesitation had him in front of you again.
“Think you could fix up this room?”