Chapter Text
Michael learned quickly how fast news spread through a small town. The next day, almost everyone was on their doorstep. William and Henry had to make the people form a line so they could see Michael again. Apparently, the other Michael, had a lot of people that cared about him. There was a couple that had babysat him, Mr. Oliver tutored him in history.
Michael even had friends.
Three of them. Abby Manhino, Katie McGregor, and Jared Hector-Henry. He was not expecting tears to be spread and bear hugs. He had completely forgotten the feeling of someone wrapping their arms around you in a nonaggressive manner. He may or not have defended himself, the all too present memories of the animatronics trying to kill him came in his head.
“Mikey!” William grabbed his son's shaking shoulders. He could see fear in his eyes as he held Abby’s hand tight, in a death grip that could break their wrist. “It’s okay, they aren’t going to hurt you. Please, just let them go.”
Michael stared at his friend; their expression of fear was all too present on their face. It was like looking into a mirror, seeing someone portray that fear back at him. It was like they were afraid of him, just like Michael was afraid of them.
Michael snapped back to reality, letting Abby’s wrist go. William gently moved him to the couch, where Henry started to push out the guest, saying that Michael really wasn’t ready to see anyone yet. William didn’t know the severity of what happened to his son, but after seeing the pure terror on his face, he was really thinking about committing a murder.
“Mikey. It’s okay, they aren’t going to hurt you. I promise.”
“But you are.” Michael whispered.
“What?” William was shocked. He looked to Abby, who opened their mouth to say something but only a whimper escaped. William bent down to his son, trying to catch his gaze, but all that William saw was a dazed and crazed expression on his face. “Honey, you have to tell me what’s going on. I’m sure I can —”
“No, you can’t! You have no idea what I went through! What I did!” Michael got up and grabbed his father’s wrist. Abby screamed, falling to the ground. William collected himself, he didn’t want to hurt his son, he would never do that. “Come on! I know it is you! I know you are still in there! Show yourself! Fucker, show yourself! Springtrap, come on, I am not afraid of you! Not anymore!”
“Michael!” Henry grabbed Michael’s shoulders, making him let go of William. “Michael, calm down.”
“Calm down. Calm down!” Michael snapped his head at Henry. “They are coming! He is coming! You will never be safe with that monster!” Michael pointed to William. “He’s coming, and he will kill everyone.”
“I’m so sorry, Abby. I really did think that he would remember you, but I should have waited.” William sighed. He walked Abby outside of the house, after calming them down and Henry making them tea. They turned to face William, their face full of tears.
“God, I really want to hurt those people that hurt Michael.” They said, as they shook. “What are you going to do about them?”
“Don’t worry, I will find them. Michael said that ‘he’ is looking for him, that man ain’t getting anywhere near him.” William patted Abby’s shoulder.
“You better not kill that man.” Abby said. “Cause that’s my job.”
“Mikey?” William knocked on Michael’s door. He heard a muffled voice say yes, and he slowly opened the door. He tried hard not to spill the tea that he had made his son. William thought that he could try to calm him down with some of his favorite tea, maybe that would calm his nerves. But what William found made his heart hurt worse.
Michael had wrapped himself underneath the covers like a small child afraid of something bumping in the night. He held a fox stuffed animal that was on the nightstand. William could hear him sobbing.
“Mikey?” William put the tea on the counter and sat down. “Mikey, please can you talk to me. You have to tell me what they did to you.” William tried so hard to keep the tears from his voice, but it was too late, he himself was crying.
“Michael, please. I just want — I just want to help.” William sniffed. He heard Michael sob harder.
“Dad, please. Please don’t leave me.” Michael whispered. William broke.
“Oh. Mikey, I’m so sorry. I should have looked harder.” William shook. Michael got up, whimpering as he hugged his father. William patted down his hair, which was matted, he was so skinny, his skin was too dry for its own good, and his voice sounded so terrible. His cries were gut wrenching, like he had been keeping something inside for so long.
“They were scary. They hurt me. They hurt others too. I tried —” Michael sobbed even harder. William had physically stopped moving when he had heard the word ‘others'. “I tried to save them. Dad, I really tried. I couldn’t, you have to believe me when I say I couldn’t.”
“It’s okay, I believe you. I believe you. I know you wouldn’t do anything to hurt anyone. I know you were scared, but you don’t have to be anymore,” William said. “No one is going to hurt you again.”
“You don’t understand. He always comes back.”
“Who comes back?” William asked softly. Michael didn’t respond. It wasn’t a choice of wanting to respond, it was the choice of whether William would believe Michael. William waited for a second before he got no answer, he decided that Michael wasn’t ready to be so forthcoming with such information. If William understood correctly, it meant that Michael was taken with a bunch of other children, and he was — he was the only survivor. William felt a sudden relief that washed over him, but he felt guilt for feeling such, dozens … maybe hundreds of children had died. But he was just glad that his son survived. Maybe if he could get Michael to speak, they could take this to the authorities, then maybe they could find these murderers … monsters … demons … and lock them up for good.
There was a knock at the door that made Michael visibly jump. He looked back at the door; his eyes glued to it as if it was about to pop right off the hinges.
“It’s okay.” William got up but Michael grabbed his arm.
“What if it is him?”
“If it is, he will have to get through me.” William patted his hand, and Michael slowly let go. Michael watched with wide eyes as William went to the door and opened it up. Michael was expecting that thing to be there, but it was just Evan. Also, Elizabeth. And Charlotte.
“Is Mikey, okay?” Liz asked. William looked back at his son and nodded his head. “Can we see him?”
“I don’t think that is the best option right now, he’s just a bit afraid right now.” Charlotte looked over William’s shoulder to see her stepbrother shaking, having his eyes glued to the window.
“He’s right Lizzie, let’s go down and play some games.” She grabbed Evan’s hand and motioned with her head for Liz to follow her. Elizabeth huffed, her stubborn nature wanting to make her father move and check up on her brother, but she could see him plead with his eyes. Elizabeth finally agreed and followed Charlotte down the stairs.
Evan stopped and turned back to William.
“C-can you tell, Mikey. When he feels better … that … that …” William put his hand on his younger son’s shoulder. “Tell him that we will make sure that they pay!” He pouted, stomping his foot on the ground. William couldn’t help but smile. Michael turned around faster than ever, making his neck hurt from the speed.
“No!” Michael yelled a little too loud. He covered his mouth, swallowing the fear in his throat. When did he become so afraid? Was it because of this? Was it because he was living a lie? Was it because that soon they would find out that he wasn’t their Michael, and they hate him? “He will find you.”
“We aren’t afraid.” Liz pointed to herself.
“You screamed on Christmas because a spider was crawling down the rafters to the ground.”
“I almost ran into it!” Liz shot back at Charlotte. William pushed them out and told them to go downstairs, that Henry was going to get them ice cream. Liz screamed in excitement, and Michael made a good assumption that she really loved ice cream.
“Do you want anything?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t had ice cream in a while.” Michael laughed dryly.
“Well, you always loved vanilla, plain and simple.” William sat down next to Michael. Neither of them said a word. Michael didn’t say anything when, for the first time in his miserable life, he had let down his guard. And around his father no less. He slowly put his head on his father’s shoulder, he felt William visibly calm down.
And they just sat there, in silence.