Chapter Text
golfing was very comforting to monty. since it was pre-programmed into his code, he did not need to put much thought into it. not only was it a nice, mindless activity, but it also helped to soothe his irritability.
so, there he was, in his golfing course.
the environment held a comfortable humidity, a slight foggy haze settled in the air. running water could be heard throughout the area.
monty huffed a content sigh through his nose, tightening his grasp on his golf club. sticking his tongue out at the corner of his mouth, he wiggled his torso, and his tail followed.
he swung the club.
it struck the ball in a surprisingly gentle manner, a contrast to monty's large and bulky appearance.
"you are very good at that!" monty stiffened, golf club slipping from his grasp and thumping to the carpeted floor. he whirled around, surprised to face the voice belonged to.
freddy.
the bear wore a soft smile, paws clasped together.
"how- uh, how long were ya standin' there?" monty struggled to meet the band leader's gaze.
"oh, just a moment," freddy waved a dismissive paw. "i suppose they do not call it 'monty golf' for nothing, hm?" his smile grew warmer.
a pleasant shiver scuttled down monty's endoskeleton, all the way to the tip of his tail.
"you flatter me, heh, i was just programmed that way," if it was possible for an animatronic to fluster, monty guessed he was living proof.
well, not living , but the statement still stood.
"may i join you?" freddy asked, before monty could question why he was there.
"oh- uh, of course!" monty's speech processors were failing, he noticed.
it could not possibly be hesitance, that would be silly. robots should not have the ability to hesitate.
"i must admit, i have never engaged in playing golf before. you may have to teach me," the bear chuckled, taking a spare club from monty's offering claws.
"'course!" monty replied with a shy, toothy smile.
monty led freddy deeper into the golf course, stopping at the tee-box of an easier area.
monty equipped freddy with what he needed to play, then stood off at the side, out of the bear's way.
freddy gripped the club in his paws, positioning it behind the ball, and swinging to strike. before he brought the club back down, he felt a warm hand on top of his own.
"oh- uh! sorry, i just, um..." the alligator removed his claw from freddy. "you might wanna change your stance, 's all," he pushed his sunglasses further up the bridge of his snout.
"it is quite alright, montgomery," freddy smiled warmly, taking monty's hand again, pressing it against his own.
"monty... is fine..." the animatronic murmured in response, external ventilation whirring.
"can we continue, monty?" the bear asked in a gentle voice, causing monty's wires to twist in a sickeningly sweet way.
he stopped, unsure of himself. he could physically show freddy, but he usually didn't have to teach this.
kids came in here already knowing what to do, just looking for some competition.
he pushed himself forward, wrapping his arms around freddy's slightly smaller frame. he placed his claws flush against freddy's paws, shifting them against the club into a better position.
"when y' play golf, yer, um," fuck. what was the word he was looking for??
" l'objectif ..." he muttered under his breath. was it a false cognate, or not? why couldn't he remember?
"basically, y' wanna get the ball in the hole with as little tries as y' can."
freddy nodded, his soft fur brushing against monty's scales.
"seems simple enough!"
monty did not want to, but he released freddy and backed away. he found something in his chest aching, yearning for the bear's touch already.
freddy kept his paws in the placement monty led them, then finally took his swing. the ball sailed along the ground, stopping just near the edge of the hole.
"awh, almost." freddy chuckled.
" bon travail !!" monty cheered with a grin, before stopping himself with a frown. "shit, sorry, i-" his fans whirred aggressively, trying desperately to cool his rising temperature. embarrassment flooded his system.
confusion flashed across freddy's faceplate as he turned to face monty.
"what...? why are you sorry?" the bear set the club down carefully and moved closer to the alligator.
"i, um, didn't mean to slip up like that," monty pressed the palms of his metal hands to his optics. none of monty's bandmates knew where he came from-- he had intended to keep it that way, but he just had to fuck it up.
"monty? i apologize, i am confused," freddy's eyebrows furrowed, expression puzzled and subtly concerned.
"they told me to stop doing that-- speaking french. it's easier to hide when i'm with the kids but... when i'm bein' genuine, it just comes out like that. 'm sorry."
freddy put a paw on his companion's shoulder.
"i do not know why they would be so insistent to stop you from speaking the language... and there is nothing to apologize for. though... i still find myself confused..." he trails off, looking up at monty.
"oh, well. before they shipped me here t' be at the plex, i was in louisiana. i was built for a pizzeria. since 'gators are a bit of a thing there, 'n french is another language they use aside from english... they programmed me t' speak it." he ran clawed fingers over his scales. "so, i guess y' could say it's my first language, but they couldn't figure out how t' fully get it outta my programming." he finished, fans still on blast, trying to ease his embarrassment.
"i see." is all freddy said, before stepping forward to grasp one of monty's hands. "well, i do not think there is a single issue about it. we all have our 'glitches', good, bad, or neither. personally, i think that it makes you more... 'you'." the bear says, catching monty off guard with what sounded like nervousness seeping into his voice.
the alligator animatronic intertwined their fingers, stepping closer to freddy.
"thank you, freddy." he paused, smiling shyly. " tu es un bon ami. "