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If you would have told Michael he would own a Freddy Fazbear's Pizza Plex a few years ago he would have laughed in your face, but here he stands in the middle of his new establishment. He must be insane that was the only logical explanation for why he would make such a stupid choice. His PTSD-ridden self had finally lost it.
He built new animatronics from scratch, making their top priority safety. He wouldn't have any more kids killed in a Fazbear's, he would never let that happen again not if he had anything to say about it. He also had the Plex built on top of his previous location, maybe for nostalgia, maybe not, he didn't know. Either way the Plex was opening tomorrow morning, and he needed to get everything ready.
The rumor mill had a lot to talk about inside the Pizza Plex, their boss was something else. Michael was extremely mysterious. He had built the animatronics by himself, he knew way more than he should about the company's history, and he was British, no one in Hurricane was British!
He always had the bear mask on his person and a little animatronic by his side named Helpy. It was a little pink and white bear that was always following him or on his shoulder.
The new hires were always hesitant around the man. At first he was definitely intimidating. He was tall well over six feet with sharp features and sunken eyes that were a piercing blue. That wasn’t even mentioning the numerous scars that littered his visible skin.
The hesitancy never lasted however, because despite how he looked he was kind. He wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty either and seemed to have a sixth sense for when he was needed.
Opening day was chaos with everyone rushing to give the final touches. Michael walked around helping where needed, after all it was incredibly important that everything was ready. As the final checks were done on the animatronics he left the workers to their own devices as he and Helpy finally opened the Pizza Plex to the public.
As the first day came to a close Michael let out a sigh. "Well, Helpy I'd say that was a pretty successful first day." He told the tiny bear who had taken a seat next to him. Helpy gave him a pointed look. Michael snorted, "Well it’s probably better this time because all we had then was a vacuum that we called an animatronic huh?" Michael asked with a chuckle.
"Sorry to interrupt but..." Jack said as he knocked on the door frame, Michael stood up and shook his head. "Not interrupting anything, what do you need?" He asked as he made his way to the man.
"The night guard just showed up," Jack explained, Michael nodded. "Tell her to meet me in Parts and Service." He requested, Jack nodded and headed off.
Michael picked up Helpy and started making his way down there, he’d been reluctant to give the night guard role to someone other than himself. Helpy, however, had run him down until he eventually caved and allowed someone else to take the role.
Vanessa had been suggested from the top without any experience. And with Michael being the top of the food chain in Fazbear Entertainment and not recommending her? Well he and Helpy had seen it was a great way to keep an eye on her and not raise suspicion.
They made it to Parts and Service first and Michael was quick to sit in a free chair and wheel himself across the room. Helpy climbed down to the table he stopped at and sat down, while Michael began to tinker as he was prone to do when he had free time. The little bear was always such a good help too, handing over tools when requested.
Vanessa walked into Parts and Service ten minutes later before freezing in place, she had yet to meet Michael but she had heard a lot about him. Though nothing could have prepared her for how familiar he seemed. She had no clue why he seemed familiar, but he was.
Michael looked up and smiled at her. He was ghostly pale and had a brown mullet with streaks of grey. He quickly put down his project and made his way over to greet her. "You must be Vanessa, It's nice to meet you," Michael told her as he shook her hand, Vanessa was shocked at how cold and boney it was.
"I-I am and you must be Michael." She responded trying and failing not to stutter over her words as his eyes met hers, Vanessa was sure he could see Into her soul. Michael just smiled, he either didn't notice her nerves or chose not to mention them.
"I am and this is Helpy." He told her as he gestured to a small bear animatronic that had walked up to Michael's side, Vanessa was again frozen. Standing in front of her was an animatronic she thought was just made up for the VR game, but now there he stood next to her new boss.
Vanessa waved down at the small animatronic who waved back enthusiastically. She looked back to Michael who was watching her closely. He then gestured for her to follow as he started walking, Vanessa did quickly and the trio made their way to the main area.
Michael had walked her around and explained to her what to do, before leaving Vanessa to her work and taking his leave.
oO0Oo
Weeks passed and everything was going well. That was until children started going missing, Michael had screamed until he couldn't anymore after learning this, and Helpy hadn’t left his side for days after that.
Michael had decided to start staying after hours sometimes after that, trying desperately to figure out what was happening. Or more like confirm his hunch. He also made sure no one knew just in case they were avoiding him specifically.
The two of them decided to stay overnight the night Freddy glitched out. This mishap gave them the perfect excuse in case they were caught, and it was the ideal time for something to go wrong.
Michael and Helpy were patrolling around the Plex looking for anything amiss while making sure to avoid Vanessa. He had his flashlight out and tablet clipped to his belt along witha place for his bear mask he's currently wearing. Admittedly he’d fallen in love with it when he worked at his old pizzeria and couldn’t bring himself to part with it.
It didn’t hurt he programmed the bots to not recognize him as human when he wore the mask either. And it wasn’t his only trick around the plex, he also had hidden rooms made where only he and Helpy could enter them.
Most workers didn't even know of the doors that couldn't be opened, a few had come across some but not many. Michael didn't have many of the secret rooms, just a few. They were filled with his secret projects and other little things he deemed important. He also had the ability to override anything that may occur in the building well he should be able to.
The two of them had just made their way to the animatronics rooms when they spotted Vanessa. They quickly took cover and waited for her to pass.
"Kid, your parents are looking for you." She announced scanning back and forth, Michael and Helpy shared a look. As Vanessa then walks away Michael begins to tap away on his tablet, searching the cameras. Eventually, he stumbled across a kid standing next to Freddy in his room.
"He's in Freddy's room," Michael said without preamble as he quickly made his way towards the door of said room. Michael opened the door and made dead eye contact with the kid, who quickly hid behind Freddy.
Michael sighed before looking at Freddy, "You want to explain to me how a kid managed to get into your room?" He tried and failed to keep the annoyance from his voice.
Freddy quickly explained the situation which left Michael silent, Freddy probably expected him to scoff at the kids’ explanation, but he didn’t in fact he did quite the opposite.
"I believe you but I'm going to need more information." Michael said as he lowered himself to the kids level. He also removed his mask hoping the kid would see the sincerity in his eyes. The kid took a weary step forward and Michael smiled.
"Y-you believe me?" The kid asked, shocked. Michael just nodded and offered a smile, "Now what's your name?" He asked the kid.
"Gregory."
"Well it's nice to meet you, Gregory I'm Michael, I own this place and built the animatronics." He told the kid, whose eyes went wide, "You're the owner of this place? That's so cool!" He exclaimed.
Michael had to fight his urge to shush the boy. He tried to question him further, Gregory however sadly didn't have any more information Michael needed. That didn’t matter though they just needed to get the kid out of here. Together Michael, Helpy, Gregory, and Freddy to Gregory's insistence made their way to the entrance.
Chica had appeared halfway there, she was walking strangely and calling out Gregory's name. Freddy looked confused and Gregory looked uneasy, Michael however knew without a doubt what was going on.
"Gregory~"
"How does she-" Gregory tried to ask, he was cut off mid-sentence as Chica turned to them and charged. "NOT AGAIN!" Michael yelped as he quickly grabbed Gregory and started to run to the nearest security office, Michael slid into the room and closed the door behind Freddy.
"HELPY WHY IS THIS HAPPENING THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING THERE'S N-" Michael's rambling was cut short as Chica pounded on the security door, and Michael stopped completely unmoving and unblinking as he watched.
"1,2,3,4,5,6." he counted under his breath, he stopped counting as Chica walked away. "11," he told himself as he reopened the door.
"Chica 11." He repeated to himself several times, Gregory and Freddy stood there in shock not sure what was happening.
"5,6,7,8,9." He counted again, he stopped as Chica appeared again. "36, 37, 38.", Michael closed the door at the last second before she could get in.
"Chica cycle 38,11," he repeated to himself repeatedly again, Michael was still watching Chica carefully. "10,11, open," Michael said as he opened the door, he then looked back to Helpy who had the tablet in his hands.
He tapped his foot rhythmically as he took the tablet from Helpy, he began to type away at it muttering inaudibly to himself.
Gregory opened his mouth to ask a question but stopped short as Michael reached behind himself to shut the door. Chica had almost gotten in! Gregory had to hold back a scream as she reached for him, soon Michael clipped the tablet back to his belt.
He once again opened the door, but this time though he grabbed Gregory and ran out. Freddy was stunned but did his best to follow along holding Helpy all the while, Michael rounded a corner and froze.
He was looking around wildly before seeming to spot what he was looking for and started to run again, he quickly ran to a room and had his hand on the door about to open it as Roxy appeared.
Roxy lunged and Gregory screamed as her claws dug into his side, Michael had tried to move him, but he wasn't fast enough. "SHIT!" He exclaimed as he quickly picked up the kid trying his best not to jostle him, before quickly running in the opposite direction from the animatronic.
A moment later Monty and Chica appeared in front of him and Michael realized they were surrounded, "Shit shit shit!" Michael repeated as he realized their predicament, Freddy couldn't take them all and Michael knew it.
He quickly ran through his options, he could run at Chica and hopefully unbalance her, but Roxy was faster than him. Monty was slow and he could outrun Chica…. Roxy needed to go but Freddy would need both hands to hold Chica, which meant he would have to leave Gregory on the ground. He only had one option…
"Helpy when I say grab Gregory and get to the room. Freddy I'm going to need you to hold Chica off and I can get Roxy, ok?" He asked as he slowly put Gregory down.
Helpy nodded as he helped Gregory stand, Freddy looked uneasy but nodded in agreement.
"Great, now wish me luck," Michael said and with that, he launched himself at the wolf. Freddy was shocked that Michael would put himself in so much danger, he didn't have time to dwell on it though as Chica lunged. Quickly he met her in the middle and kept her away from Gregory, while Michael was scrambling in the wolf's hold.
"Come on, come on buttons. Eye, jaw, cheek, COME ON!" He rambled as he tried to quickly put Roxy into safe mode, he wasn't fast enough to do it before she fought back sadly. Michael yelled as she tore into his stomach and arm, "HELPY GO!" He yelled to his animatronic now that the coast was clear, Helpy quickly moved past them as Michael continued to try to put the wolf in safe mode.
He just succeeded when Monty wrenched him off the wolf, Michael yelled as the gator's claws tear into his left shoulder. He had to move quickly if he wanted to avoid the worst of it though. Michael quickly twists, and yells again as he pops his right arm out of the socket, but he manages to push himself away from Monty. Quickly gaining his footing he calls for Freddy to follow him and starts towards his room, he rounded the next corner and stops.
Freddy is first to round the corner as Michael knew he would be, he grabs the bear with his good (well less fucked up) arm, and drags Freddy into the nearest room before shuting the door quickly and quietly.
Michael hears footsteps tearing down the hall and he waits, all the while he does his best to ignore the sound of his blood dripping onto the floor. When he hears them fade he quietly opens the door and the two of them make their way to the lower area of the Plex. He gets to the hidden door and quickly opens it and closes it behind Freddy.
"How's the kid?" Michael asks Helpy as he sits on the ground and positions his right arm in front of him. Helpy gives him a thumbs up as he gestures at the suture kit he has next to him. Michael just nods before counting down softly to himself before quickly pushing his arm back into the socket.
He cursed lightly before looking himself over more thoroughly. He can see claw marks tearing up his left arm as well as his chest, he sees a slash on his right calf, and feels blood dripping down his face. He's also 90% sure his chest is cut open and knows his left shoulder is shredded.
So overall it could be worse.
Helpy was patching Gregory up and that left Gregory with a full view of Michael's state.
OK, it was worse.
"Kid." Michael tried but was cut off, "HELPY! Ignore me help him!”
Michael knew how bad it looked, he did! Michael was just used to looking…worse, so this was nothing, but to Gregory this was everything.
Michael needed to explain and quickly but how? He couldn't just turn off the illusion disk, but he would only look worse with the new wounds. Gregory also didn't need to see what he actually looked like, and he didn't want to scare the kid more than he already had.
Helpy luckily jumped in shaking his head pointedly and patting him comfortingly.
Gregory was still freaking out and Michael couldn't help, he did the only thing he knew to do and went to fix himself. He would be fine without stitches but it would help him, he quickly grabbed the stitches and needle in the kit.
Michael ripped the lower part of his pants leg off so he could use it as a bandage as well as reach one of the slashes. He stitched himself up quickly and it wasn't as painful as it might have been once.
He quickly finished his leg and moved to his left arm, he didn't so much as wince as he stitched himself up. He would have Helpy do his right arm but now he had to do his chest, well maybe. If he was being honest he didn't see the point. Half his ribcage showed without the illusion disk on, he sighed as he looked at Helpy.
Gregory watched in muted horror as Michael stitched himself up, Gregory looked to Freddy who was also watching Michael perplexed. Michael didn't even flinch as he stitched himself up, he then froze as he looked at his front, he seemed to be contemplating something. He eventually shook his head to himself and looked to Helpy, Helpy who had finished with Gregory a while ago and had also been watching.
"Can you do my right arm? Also bring me the bandages." He requested as he took off his shirt, Gregory could only stare at the mangled mess his chest was. He was completely covered in blood and Gregory could see multiple slashes, he was mauled through and through. Gregory had a sneaking suspicion Michael should be dead.
Helpy handed him the bandages and Michael quickly wrapped them around his chest before moving to allow Helpy to stitch up his right arm. The bear quickly did just that and unlike for Gregory hadn't put any disinfectant on his wounds.
Michael quickly put his shirt back on before looking around the room before seemingly remembering that it wasn't just him and Helpy in there.
He recovers quickly however, "We need to get you out of here." Michael tells Gregory. And the kid had to agree he wanted out of here. "How? Everyone is trying to kill us?" Gregory asked because that was the one thing in the way of that goal. Michael took out his tablet that somehow hadn't shattered. He quickly began typing away at it, he eventually clipped it back to his side and looked back to the others.
"Lucky for you I've done this my fair share of times, I can override any protocol done to the building. That means we aren't locked inside, at least not for now. I know the layout better than anywhere else and have the perfect exit for you. While I don't know what exactly happened to the animatronics, as long as we don't get cornered again we should be OK.” He explains.
Micheal reaches for the mask on his belt but comes up short as there is nothing there. "Of course, my bloody mask is gone." He grumbled. Gregory wants to ask why the mask matters, but he chooses not to. He instead asks Michael where they're going next.
Michael pauses before grabbing the tablet and looking at it again, "Most of the exits were guarded, but little do they know there's another way out." Michael says with a smirk.
Michael starts out the door and after everyone is out he closes it again, he makes his way to the front of the group and starts walking.
"You see when I built this place, I made sure there was always going to be an exit that no one knew of. And I mean no one, not even the inspectors or builders. Just me and Helpy. I knew there was always a chance of this happening, so I made a backup plan." Michael explains as he leads them down seemingly random corridors.
"I have rooms in the Plex no one can access except us, one of them has a hidden exit. The rooms are very out of the way though I couldn't risk people asking questions."
Michael suddenly freezes and pushes the group back into a room and quickly closes the door. Seconds later a bunny lady skips past, Michael looks pissed as he watches this from where they are hiding.
The bunny is soon out of earshot and Michael lets out an annoyed groan, "Yay another killer bunny." He grumbles to himself with a scowl. He gets us and resumes leading the group undeterred.
They manage to make it only five more minutes before Michael hears something coming again, but this time there is nowhere to hide. Michael quickly positions himself in front of Gregory and Freddy follows suit.
The bunny comes into view and Michael watches her carefully prepared to run at any second. Truthfully Michael could beat her in a fight even if she had a knife, but Michael worries she has control of the animatronics.
Michael can't risk them getting cornered again and if this has anything to do with Father (it does) then he will want to be the one to kill them, thus she won't call the animatronics unless she has to.
Michael then sees his mask in her hand. He has to bite his tongue to keep from making a smart ass retort, "So Father put you up to this I’m guessing?" Michael states more than asks.
"Father?" The bunny asks, tilting her head and readjusting her grip on her knife.
Michael chuckles lowly before giving her a smile with far too much malice, and thickens his accent. He speaks in short, clipped words imitating the tone he knew all too well.
"Who else would put you up to this?" He asks, making sure to stand as tall as he can while taking a deliberate step forward. He knows just how imposing it is having been the victim of this behavior so many times.
But if this is what he thinks it is maybe a more pressing figure will be enough to have her second guess herself. Sure enough the bunny took an uneasy step backward, and Michael took another step forward matching her. He also takes the chance while his back is to the kid to turn off the illusion disk.
The bunny quickly takes a few more steps backward as the hand that's holding the knife shakes lightly. Michael is all too happy to match her steps as he lets out a low gravely chuckle. "What nothing to say?" Michael mocked and without the illusion up his voice sounds like gravel.
"I'll get the boy you won't be able to stop me." She tries to sound menacing but it doesn’t quite work before turning and skipping away. Michael turns the disk back on before turning and grabbing the kid before hurrying away.
Michael rounds another corner before cursing under his breath and freezing, Gregory looks around the man and sees Roxy walking around.
"Lucky us this is the only way out, Helpy what can we do?" Helpy scans the area for a moment before gesturing. Gergory and Freddy don’t understand but Michael does as he contemplates for a moment. He then quickly enters a room not far from them.
Gregory and the others follow after him like they had been all night. It's a small workshop area Gregory observes and watches Michael who is hurrying around and grabbing things at seemingly random.
Michael eventually makes his way back to the main workbench in the center of the room with his arms full, he lays out his findings before asks Helpy for a few tools which the bear quickly retrieves. He opens up a flashlight he found and starts messing with it. Gregory is completely lost as to what he’s doing but once he’s done he gestures for them to follow as he leaves.
Michael pushes Gregory behind Freddy and instructs the bear to look away before walking out into the open allowing Roxy to see him, as she charges Michael turns on the flashlight. It flashes far brighter than it should with a concerning buzzing noise before Roxy freezes with a concerning noise of her own as her servos lock up.
Michael quickly puts Roxy back into safe mode before locking her like that. He hadn't had the chance last time he had put her in safe mode, but he does now and she'll be stuck like that until he disables it himself.
Suddenly the lights go out completely, Michael quickly backpedals and rejoins the others. "Bollocks," Michael whispers before quickly grabbing his normal flashlight and clicking it on.
"That's not Moon, this is someone flipping the breakers. We're stuck in here even with my secret exit." He tells Gregory and Freddy. The exit is behind sealed doors that are impossible to open without power, normally a good thing but not right now. Michael hears footsteps and quickly turns around to see the remaining animatronics now circling them.
To Michael's dismay this time Moon is with them, and while he could outrun the contortionist it wasn't by much.
"What are you going to do now Mr. Afton?" The bunny asks as she walks closer giggling to herself.
"Don't call me that." Michael snarls. Under his breath he whispers to Helpy. "Go fix the breaker."
Helpy runs off quickly.
"But why not? You’re exactly like him. You've killed and destroyed just as he has." The bunny retorts.
Michael chuckles to himself at the audacity. He may be a copy of his father, but their sins aren’t comparable.
“It all boils down to an intent and in that we differ. I may be his copy made over but I am not that monster." He tells her pointedly.
"Do you really think you can ever stop him I mean, He always comes back"
Michael huffs, "As do I, and I will continue to come back until he no longer does. Then and only then I'll finally rest." A breath then he continues. "Now come on Vanessa don't hide behind a mask, if you're going to kill me at least let me see your face, you coward." He hisses as he positions himself in front of the group.
The bunny jerks in shock but reaches up and removes her mask. Sure enough, it was Vanessa, she looked confused as she watched Michael.
"How did you know it was me?"
"I’m many things but stupid isn't one of them, not after my death, not after being tricked that time.”
Gregory gaped a bit stupidly but couldn’t say anything before Michael brought up the modified flashlight and blinded Moon. Immediately the flashlight shorted out, he cursed and dropped it before grabbing Gregory and running as fast as he could.
They made it pretty far before Michael suddenly stopped and grabbed a key out of his pocket, Gregory almost fell on his face and even Freddy slid to a screeching stop. He opened the door and closed it behind the others as they entered. Michael then collapsed onto the ground with Gregory as the kid panted for breath.
If it wasn't for Michael's knowledge of the Plex's layout they would probably be dead. All of the locked doors and hidden away rooms were a godsend. Footsteps could be heard running past the door.
"What are we going to do?" Gregory asked worried between breaths
"Helpy will turn the breaker back on and then we should be able to get you out of here. If I can manage to put and lock all the animatronics in save mode it would be even better, Roxy is out of play so the next best move should be to knock Moon off the board." He explained
"Why Moon?" Both Freddy and Gregory asked.
"He is the next fastest animatronic. I can barely outrun him and I don't fancy getting mauled by an animatronic for the umpteenth time." He grumbled.
"You know what's going on." Freddy states more than asks and Gregory looks back at Michael eyes brimming with questions. The man had all but confirmed it earlier but after the conversation the two had just had well…
Michael just sighs, "It’s a long gruesome story but yes."
"Wait what's going to happen to you if I just leave the animatronics will still try to kill you!?" Gregory asked, suddenly alarmed as Michales words from a few moments ago settled in.
"Kid I've already told you I have experience I'll be fine, besides I have to stop my father again."
Gregory didn't look happy with his explanation and Michael let out a sigh. "Look kid, come back in three days and it will be like nothing ever happened. I promise you everything will be OK." Michael told him seriously.
Gregory didn't look convinced but begrudgingly agreed. Michael smiled at him, suddenly the lights flicked back on. The cheshire cat grin that spread across his face would be unsettling if he wasn’t helping them.
"Come on Gregory we're close to the exit let's get you out of here." The group quickly made their way to the hidden room.
Helpy appeared from a vent and jumped into Michael's arms as they entered. Michael was about to ask what was wrong before he heard the unmistakable sound of the Mini Music Man. The toy appeared and clanged his cymbals angrily.
"Miny DJ you too? Come on, what did dad do?” He sounded genuinely upset before looking to Helpy with a frown. “This is exactly why you are on your own system."
He rallied quickly however and he soon had the door open to the outside. With the swipe of a card he produced from the inner lining of his vest. Gregory wanted to leave but he had nowhere to go and so many questions.
Michael had just patted his shoulder and told him to come back in three days. Gregory could survive three days he had survived much longer before.
"I'll be back and you better be OK." Gregory threatened the man, Michael met his eyes and for a moment it looked like the man was going to cry.
"You're so much like him." Michael muttered, "L-like who?" Gregory asked, now unsure of himself.
"Come back in three days and I'll tell you yeah?" Michael said as he stood from his crouched position in front of him, "OK I'll be back I promise." Gregory told him now more ready than ever to get an answer.
With that he left this nightmare.