Chapter Text
How did we get here?
Authors note: this is my first time writing on AO3 as a Wattpad veteran, have mercy I’m trying to improve and get used to everything lol. Have fun reading and tell me if I need to write more if u enjoy it! xx (I TAKE FEEDBACK TOO TELL ME OF I SUCK AND HOW TO IMPROVE)
Micheal stood cautiously at the bottom of the basements stairs, staring at his father tinkering with what seemed to be a malfunctioning Fredbear.
Since observing him, he noticed when he’d pat his forehead with his stained grease rag more aggressively than normal, only when Fredbear would take a swing at him or he’d zap himself with a wire.
He’d been down there a while.
He found his voice bunching up in the back of his throat as he fought to gather his senses and say something, or even just run upstairs and never talk to anyone ever again if that was an option.
But he was already down there, what would he say? He had a reason to be down there in the first place, but by the time he got there his mind had wiped his previous memory squeaky clean. ‘Well crap.’ He thought to himself as he swayed on his feet, brows knit.
By this time in his life Micheal was around 8 years old, his younger sister Vanessa 6 years old and full of enough energy to tear up an arcade in 3 minutes flat.
It was early April, April 3rd 1976 to be exact but who’s counting.
The weekend was cool enough for William to work in his shop until noon before the heat would roll in and he would retreat upstairs and have to interact with his family.
Oh the horror.
Micheal wasn’t one to hate attention but when he got it from his father..? he was both over the moon and perturbed by it. It was rare when his father would willingly give him his attention, recently it was a conversation about whether or not he’d go into the family business…? Weir-
“Micheal James Afton.” His father’s voice thundered toward the young boy, his annoyance clear while the boy blinked rapidly to come back to his current reality before speaking.
“…-yes?”
There was a pause as his father observed him with tightened eyes, his mouth in a slight frown as he pushed up his wired glasses up his nose.
“Son, you’ve been standing there for what I can assume is hours and haven’t said a word.” He speaks, genuinely off put as he furrowed his brows at the child.
Micheal stared a moment longer before he spoke again, seemingly more unsure about his choices than before he was caught existing in his fathers presence.
“Well uhm.. I was wondering if we could.. uh. Go to the restaurant?” He felt his body recoil and cringe at the request, feeling his father’s eyes bore into him.
He himself wasn’t even sure he wanted to go, but he’d probably find something better to do than lay around all weekend with his loud sister dragging around her baby doll by its hair. Besides, she’d be distracted by his ‘Uncle’ Henry’s daughter Charlotte anyways.
William’s expression lightened slightly into a more confused look before glancing between his work and Micheal. He wasn’t put off by the idea.. he just thought that Mike would want to do other things on the weekend, at least that’s what he himself would’ve done at his age.. How old was he again? 7? 12? Nah whatever it doesn’t matter.
“Yeah.. that’s fine, we can go later at…” He checked his watch briefly before landing on a time “noonish, tell your mom and sister to start getting ready..”
Micheal felt himself nod awkwardly before finally retreating to the living room at the top of the basements staircase.
Looking up at the clock on the mantle he did some mental math before concluding he had a few hours to kill before they went to Fredbears.
What to do what to do..