A/N: I've been wanting to do a multi-chapter story about Mike bonding with the animatronics for a while now and there are a few things I must clarify
First: The animatronics in this story are different from their game counterparts in that they are sentient. Like they were programmed with hyperparameter optimization.
Second:Mike is fourteen and a very curious fan of the animatronics.
If there are any other questions please feel free to ask in the reviews, I'll respond the best I can!
An Unlikely Family
Mike had always been a sort of wayward child, finding his own way the best way. So few would be surprised to learn that young Mike had decided to hide out in the stalls of Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria until all the staff and customers had left for the night.
Fazbear's pizza had always been one of Mike's favorite places to hang out and waste away hours of the day ever since he was a mere seven years old. Of course back then he would come under the supervision of his parents who placed heavy restriction on what he was allowed to do. They would always tell him not to touch the animatronics, for it was the policy of the place. But the metal animals were so cool that he just wanted to go up and pet them despite their lack of fur.
But perhaps more than that, he had always wanted to go up and talk to them, for he knew they were rather sophisticated robots and could make responses pretty much like any sentient being. His parents however, would always assert the fact that they were just robots and were not capable of retaining thoughts. But even now as he was fourteen years old and already building the walls possibility within his mind, he still believed that those animatronics were smarter than his parents had always led him to believe. And since they were much too busy to disturb during open hours, and the fact that the rules forbid any unauthorized handling or direct "manipulation" of the animatronics, he decided the only way he'd ever have time with them would be to stay behind in the desolate stalls of the men's bathroom until the place had closed for the night. This way he'd be able to approach each of the animatronics without being rebuked for it.
He just had to have one conversation with those three animatronics (not counting Foxy, since he'd been decommissioned years ago). He just needed to know that they could say more than just a "Happy birthday Mike!" and could be the friends he once believed they could be!
After he'd had a conversation with them, he'd quickly make his way home before his parents began to worry.
Mike stood on the seat of the toilet as he checked the time on his phone: 9:56 pm. He bit his lip in anxiety, desperately urging the remaining four minutes to pass by. Even though he was too young to receive severe punishment if he got caught, he knew that getting caught would still mean that his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at meeting these animatronics whom he'd idolized as a child would be permanently ruined.
He stopped for a moment and silently laughed—this was ridiculous, he was doing all this just to meet a bunch of talking animals. What would his friends at school think if they learned of this?
For the briefest moment, he considered abandoning the whole plan. But he suddenly heard the sound of a door closing from out in the main room.
Glancing down at his phone, he saw that it was 10:02 pm. A nervous smile crept onto his face. He felt now that all his actions were being secretly viewed by his friends—that they were making incredulous remarks at this pathetic endeavor... perhaps they weren't the greatest friends...
He sighed self-consciously, warding the absurd thought away as he slowly pushed open the stall door. The auto-detecting lights of the bathroom were still on due to his movements and for a moment he feared that someone might have noticed and stayed behind to see if anyone might come out.
Stealthily sliding against the tiled wall, he listened carefully for any voices.
The sounds that reached his ears were very strange. It sounded like shaking plates and rolling cardboard party hats or plastic cups against the floor.
He hesitated, still listening to the noise. Maybe someone's still cleaning, he speculated, listening closer beyond the nervous pounding of his own heart. The sound seemed to grow more distant and then nearer, as if someone was spanning up and down the lengths of each table.
Please, don't let someone still be here! He mentally begged, biting his knuckles.
Sliding toward the corner, he peered out catching an obstructed glimpse of a table corner. He flew back around the corner as he saw a bit of something yellow pass by it, pressing his eyes closed as he felt the stone of fear that was sitting in his stomach. There was definitely someone still here! For what reason, he didn't know, but there was no denying the movement he just saw.
He stood there for a time, just breathing in and out, trying to calm his savage heart. The person out there couldn't stay for much longer; they hadn't had night-shifts here in over ten years! No, it must be an employee just finishing some extra cleaning.
He contemplated returning to his stall in case the person out there decided to inspect the bathrooms, but was stopped by the sound of familiar voices from out in the main room.
"Don't knock over those chairs!" A voice warned.
Mike's heart leaped into his throat as he instantly recognized the male voice to be the animatronic bunny's—Bonnie was his name. He felt his heart suddenly quicken with interest upon recognizing the voice. It definitely was the animatronic's voice; no one else could emulate that high rabbit-like pitch yet with such a deep humanly undertone that his every word stuck in the mind.
His mind was so full of curiosity at this moment, that he just had to get a better look!
Creeping back to the corner, he poked his head around for a glance. There was nothing at the small corner of the table he was able to see, but he did hear another voice—this time female.
"The chairs are perfectly sturdy where they are." She responded in her soft contralto. "I was never in any danger of knocking them over."
Bonnie was quick in response: "Well it's happened before, and you know how we get blamed whenever things get broken."
A third voice interrupted the two, deep and jovial. "There's no need to argue about this, you two. Let's just continue on with this tidying up and then we can prepare for the morning."
The iconic voice was obvious and clear to Mike. It was the single voice that everyone thought of when they mentioned this place—the Wonderful Freddy Fazbear's.
The youth could barely contain his excitement as he listened to the voices converse. They're actually out there—talking to one another! He told himself. It was like his greatest dream had come true, these three animatronics were out there talking of their own will! …But they were still metal animals made to entertain children. There was no reason for him to be so excited about it.
"Yeah, I guess you're right..." Bonnie admitted somewhat guiltily. "What about Foxy?"
The sound of heavy curtains harshly thrown open filled the air, then: "What about me, y' poxy, landlubber?" a rough voice suddenly asked, earning the surprised turning of mechanisms. "If this be mutiny, I'll keelhaul ye!"
By this point Mike had slid to the wide doorway that lead to the main dining room so that the animatronics were in full visibility. He had been confused about the strange pirate-like voice and now he knew why.
Foxy the Pirate—the one animatronic he had only ever seen 'turned off' was standing angrily facing Bonnie, his shiny hook inches away from the purple rabbit's face.
Freddy spoke sternly to the crimson fox, "Foxy, you know you're not permitted to wander out of your Cove."
The fox turned a scowl on the bear, swiping his hook dismissively at him. "Aye, I'll do wha' I please! Me ears hurt aplenty from listenin' to the landlubber's gossip all day!"
"Foxy," Bonnie warned. "Don't make us force you back in there..."
"You don't want it to come to that." Chica added.
"Ah, give me yer worst! I've fought many a scurvy dog in my day; slashed 'em by th' curve of me cutlass!" He stepped back rearing his hook and raw metal hand up readily as if to fight, narrowed eyes of resentment watching them.
"They're gonna fight!" Mike slapped a hand over his mouth right after the awe-stricken words had escaped.
Four sets of animatronic eyes were instantly on the boy standing in the wide doorway to the bathrooms. Mike shifted awkwardly under their surprised stares, "Uh… hey!" he said trying to rid the awkward air. "What's...what's up? Just roaming around or…"
The four animatronics just stared silently at him, still shocked by his presence. Foxy was the first to speak up; he placed his hand on Freddy's back. "Well, it looks like you've got a bigger problem th'n me ol' circuit boards…"
I hope you liked this first, short chapter, and if you did, you can follow/favorite to show your support! :)