"Michael."

Said man freezes with his hands up as if he was caught red-handed. And no, he wasn't doing anything that warranted such a reaction. All he's been doing is closely following behind Jeremy as he's guided through the restaurant by the only animatronic that's allowed so much as a mile radius. Of course that kind of trust means constant glances behind to ensure the person who got him into the mess is no more than a foot away at a time.

Freddy better get his ass over here so Foxy and his newest first mate don't get too far away, or else they're going to have a big problem. And not the one that ends with someone screaming in terror and therefore making all the kids panic so every parent writes an angry letter the next day saying they'll never come back. P.S. the pizza was delicious though.

Picture this. Jeremy on the floor curled up in a ball. Mike pissed his best friend has been traumatized. Freddy, deactivated for a solid week.

"Have you ever realized you're the only one who doesn't call me Mike?" the man huffs as the bear finally lumbers his way over, motioning for him to follow as a certain Cake Snatcher stares at him with the silent statement they're too far away. "Sometimes it sounds like you're not even trying to talk to me. Who is this 'Michael', and why do you love him more than me!"

"I always knew you were the jealous type," Freddy easily fires back.

No. He can't smirk with appreciation. Because it reminds him of the whole Mr. Perfect being chosen over him. Proving he is definitely the jealous type damnit!

"Why are you acting like I've done something wrong anyway?" Mike murmurs. Because from his perspective, he's only been a good friend to someone who looked like they needed it. Still haven't completed his paperwork, but usually he finishes that after the restaurant closes anyway.

Freddy doesn't respond immediately, silently scanning the restaurant, a sight that's beyond ordinary. Just the lead animatronic making sure everything's in order. The kids sprinting around screaming in joy and not fear. No guests popping up in the facial recognition system to state they're not supposed to be anywhere near children's restaurant. The only thing that makes him think something's wrong is when he locks onto something, looking almost curious.

Taking the bait he follows the line of sight to see the bear is focused on...Jeremy. A bristle proves he's still the jealous type shit! "What's wrong with Jer?"

"You're awfully fond of someone who hid in an 'employee's only' section."

Blue eyes harden at the thought of accusing the adorable kid of being anything but innocent. "So?"

A paw gently snags his shoulder to stop him. The protest the ticking time-bomb controlled solely by distance dies as Foxy pauses the tour in order to say hi to a birthday girl. And don't think he didn't catch the nods passing between them.

Fine. They can talk, Mike obediently turning himself to properly face Freddy Fazbear.

Someone who's kept him company in the late hours of the night. Told the other three to keep the bickering to a minimum if he fell asleep to drool on the paperwork properly instead of from pure boredom. Saved his life when someone tried to kill him despite having a past of pain longer than knowing a stupid kid who didn't follow the rules because he wanted to be spiteful.

Someone who's also clearly attached to his original creator. Gets annoyed from time to time and fires a few insults too close to home without paying close attention to how it's taken. Constantly tells the man they adore he's too lonely for it to be healthy, but when someone struts into his life and doesn't mind the way he acts, thinks there's something wrong.

Because everything is wrong when it comes to Mike. The way he gains a restaurant and fixes the animatronics up. The way he makes friends. The way his parents never even wanted-

He sucks in a breath sharply at such a sudden and unpleasant thought, quickly tuning back into the chaotic noise of the restaurant alight with joy, and laughter. Such a stark contrast from when he first became a night guard just over a year ago. Something he did. He made it one of the top places for children entertainment.

Freddy watches him with concern. From the looks of it, he zoned out again. But at least he didn't faint. "Michael, are you okay?"

"I'm fucking tired, Freddy," Mike softly admits as he deflates. He can't help a lazy flinch though at the thought of getting lectured with letting a curse slip while surrounded by innocent ears.

"When was the last time you ate? Or slept?" tells him he gets a pass this time.

The man rubs at his face in the attempt to clear his head enough to think about what he did last night. Hell, this morning before the wonderful surprise named Henry decided to stop by. "Can't remember."

"We haven't been keeping an eye on you," Freddy sighs. The one saying he's disappointed he hasn't been keeping up on his duties as the leader of the Fazbear Gang of which Mike had been made an honorary member the night he got invited to join them in the dining room despite only being a night guard. "You don't even leave the restaurant and yet we don't keep tabs on eating and sleeping habits."

"Honestly I'm fine," Mike promises as he straightens up to show the topic is being put on the back burner.

As much as he'd love to take a rare moment and ask for a relaxing day in which his family would be more than happy to drop everything in order to do for him, he's now the full owner of Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria. The creator of the franchise visited an hour ago, and he needs to write a professional report stating why the demands of putting Foxy away and everyone permanently on stage during the day isn't practical. Someone who had hid inside his office and asked for help staying safe from whatever chased them down needs to be interviewed after finally calming down enough.

His food and sleep deprivation can wait. Those who need him now can't.

"So maybe I latched onto Jer a little more than I intended," Mike grins. And he can see disappointment in continuing to push himself like this in the bear's eyes, but there's a promise they'll read him a bedtime story with milk and cookies later. "But how could I not. He's adorable."

There's the eyeroll saying Freddy can't believe he decided this dumbass of a human was someone he should follow straight to hell. "It's good to know your preference toward befriending someone is measured by their 'adorableness'."

"Hey, you say it, but that's why I fell in love with you guys."

"Mikey be thinkin' we're adorable!"

The man in question finds himself yanked by the back of his shirt before he can so much as blink, knowing from multiple experiences there's now a hole thanks to a hook that shouldn't be as sharp as it is, and he's about to be suffocated. Any attempts to yell for help to escape become muffled screams as arms circle around him in a hug.

"Yer adorable too, lad!"

"Can't breathe cap'n!"

"Mr. Smith!"

Mike gasps for air as he's released a lot sooner than usual, coughing out a lung as a paw pats his back-

Hang on a second. The pressure is too light for that to be an animatronic. It doesn't cover his entire back, either.

"Y-You okay?" Jeremy questions. The kid pauses the attempt to help when all he gets is a stare filled with awe, his shoulders hunching up with attitude thinking someone's about to make a joke out of him. "What?"

Mike shakes his head, body jerking with the last of his coughs slowly fading out. "Nothi,i,ing. Thanks."

"Mr. Smith!" reminds him of why he's only gasping for air instead of lying on the floor in an oxygen-less daze. The little boy tugging on his shirt finally getting the attention he deserves as the restaurant owner kneels down.

Yes, kneels down. He's taught every kid who's a regular that if they need to tell him something important, he'll listen. Just because he's taller than most ten year old's doesn't mean he can't hear their side of an argument between two parents. Or, in extremely few cases, make him aware of a shady figure who's managed to stay just below the animatronic's radar.

"What's up?"

"Mr. Smith?" Jeremy hisses.

"His last name's Schmidt, which is a bit too complicated sometimes," Freddy explains.

Mike admits he irresponsibly pauses his listening in order to smirk up at Parts And Nervous currently nodding to say he understood the explanation. It stops when he notices the attention being given toward him instead of the kid who ran up to deliver urgent news. A few seconds of glaring to say he doesn't understand when those grey eyes snap up in order to spot Freddy's own smirk.

"I-I'm still scared of you."

"Sure, Mr. Fitzgerald."

Sure, Jer- what?

"-and then I heard a loud 'BANG' on the door!" the boy exclaims, bouncing up and down with excitement.

Mike's train of thought crashes and burns as he realizes there's apparently a 'BANG'ing sound near a children's restaurant, and Freddy knows Jeremy's last name.

That's not possible because he'd only know that from-

"Which door?" the man quickly asks, shoving aside the earth-shattering idea flooding his mind in favor of focusing on what's more important.

"Back one by Foxy's cove!"

"Foxy!" Mike calls as the animatronic immediately starts moving the group of kids around his stage toward the party tables. Closer to Bonnie and Chica, and far away from a terrifying unknown. The boy is gently pushed toward the others with the promise of getting a whole pizza to take home.

He's so focused on making sure everyone's safe he misses the fact Jeremy's gone pale white. Doesn't realize the kid moved to grab his arm as he quickly moves toward the back door with Freddy right beside him.

"Where is everyone?"

"Dining area and kitchen," the bear quickly replies after mentally looping through the cameras. "No one's in the bathrooms or hallways."

"Mi-i-ike!"

"What do you think it is?"

"If it was a gun, we would've heard it."

"Some teenager hitting it with a bat or something?"

"M-Mike!"

"It's a better possibility."

"MIKE!"

The sudden yell from Jeremy makes him freeze mid-step, whirling around in time to see the shorter desperately lunge to grab his arm. He doesn't have the time to ask what's wrong when he's yanked harshly to the side. Away from the door they can now hear a soft scratching emanating from it.

"Jer, you can't-!"

"It's-s-s-s th-th-them!" the kid sobs.

Mike's fist clenches at the proclamation what made Jeremy hide like he had has followed him all the way to the restaurant. His restaurant.

He turns to the trembling figure, a hand firmly clasped onto his shoulder. "Jeremy. I need you to tell me who it is. And I promise, I won't let them lay a single finger on you."

A sob escapes as the curls still caked in mud and dirt shake vigorously. "I-I-It's him!"

Mike turns to see Jeremy pointing at...Freddy. And before he explodes at the kid, or the bear, or everyone, he takes a deep breath as a paw is placed on his own shoulder.

"Freddy," he breathes, begging for clarity.

"Th-The other one!"

Mike's anger disappears as pure confusion slams into him. Not just confusion, though. Freddy himself forcing both of them toward the West Hallway as a low growl begins.

What the hell is going on? What does 'the other one' mean? Why is the person he trusts most acting like the world is about to end? Why is the bear acting like he did whenever Mr. Seal came too close after that haunting night?

What is he protecting him from?

"Fred-"

"Get in the office," Freddy snarls. "Now."

That, in combination with Jeremy's frantic pulling, makes Mike suddenly dig his heals down in order to face toe-to-toe with the towering animatronic as his friend yelps after tripping and falling when his grasp slipped.

"No."

"Michael, I'm serious-"

"Freddy," the man begins, his voice low. "I'm not going into that damn office unless you come with me, or I see what's behind that fucking door."

The growl grows louder as the blue eyes turn into pure black orbs, a single dot of white light. For the first time ever since it was supposed to be the last thing he saw before being killed by a suit. When it was promised they'd never do it again out of respect so it won't make him scared.

Low blow using that to try and make me run away.

"Do not test me, Michael."

"I'm not a child, Freddy."

They stand there for a few minutes. The silent statement the other is going too far and they should both leave it alone.

"...let me lock the door, and I'll meet you in the office."

"I'm staying right here while you lock it."

Surprisingly, Freddy doesn't try and negotiate it, turning around to secure the back door and immediately walk back over. Mike doesn't move a muscle until the bear moves to guide him down the hallway, ducking away so he walks by himself without being touched.

"I'm sorry."

Yeah, it was a real dick move doing the one thing the man still has nightmares about. The reason he never goes home because there he's alone in the pitch-black darkness, slowly going insane because he doesn't know if he'll go back to the restaurant and find his family waiting for him, or killing machines that never cared about him. Something he's never told the others because he knows it'd break their hearts, and besides, it's just a little bit of night terrors and insomnia.

He doesn't say he forgives. Barely acknowledges Jeremy huddled in the corner with fresh tears still trailing down his face. He only glares fiercely up at Freddy who can't help but glance away.

"How the fuck do you know his last name?"